Cooperative Reef Ecosystem Study; Summary of 1992 Pilot Project Sampling

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Long, Michele, Arlene Merems, David Fox, and Jim Golden

Publish Date: 1996

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: Cedric.X.Cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Over the past decade, increases in resident and visitor populations and a rising interest in marine resources has lead to an increase in recreational and commercial uses of Oregon's shoreline and nearshore living marine resources. Marine resource user groups, environmental groups, and local communities are becoming increasingly concerned about the impacts to marine habitats and populations brought on by the new and changing uses. Much of the increased use has focused on nearshore rocky reefs. The reduction in salmon fishing • r opportunities has resulted in increased sport and commercial pressure on other fish species, such as rockfish. The past decade has also seen an increase in sport bottom fishing and the rise of the commercial sea urchin fishery. At present, there is not adequate information to describe the cumulative effects of the increased activities on nearshore reef fish and invertebrate communities, breeding bird populations, pinnipeds, or on other associated sensitive species/habitats. Local fisheries dependent communities want to protect fishery resources, ensure sustainable yields, and develop new fishing opportunities, while environmental groups want to to ensure ecosystem health and diversity, and the general public wants both fishing and other marine recreational opportunities enhanced and protected. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and other resource agencies need to develop an adequate knowledge base of the natural resources of kelp/reef habitats to address the ever increasing number and complexity of management concerns. In the past, the response to management issues was to study individual species of concern in isolation. However, the complexity of the reef ecosystem and links between species and their habitats dictates a higher level and more encompassing approach to this study. We decided to take an ecosystem approach to the study of nearshore reefs. In 1992, ODFW initiated the cooperative Reef Ecosystem (CORE) Study to begin addressing these issues. The research design allows individual studies to complement each other and make effective use of scarce funds and equipment. The effort provides a basis for determining a balanced use of resources in kelp/ reef habitats.

Purpose: Primary study objectives include: - integrate existing studies to describe habitat relationships in the kelp/reef complex; - map bathymetry, substrate, and algal cover of representative kelp/reef system(s); - describe the extent, location, and interannual variation of the kelp canopy; - monitor current patterns, temperature regimes, salinity, and turbidity; - determine species compositions and relative abundance of invertebrates, reef fishes, birds, and mammals in Southern Oregon kelp/ reef habitats; - determine species interactions; - determine effects of commercial and recreational harvesting of various resources; - collect data on wildlife disturbance issues and resource use conflicts.

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon Coast

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF file

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Not yet described

Bibliography Information

Field Name	Value
Biblio ID	4899
Year	1996
Publisher
Request Type	Report
Location	Marine Region
Date Created
Date Cataloged
Date Published	1996
Type
Pages	1-75
Volume
Status	0
Descriptor	Habitat; Marine Region
Date Entered	1/1/1999
Location In Clackamas Library
Author
Duplicates
Number Remaining After Requests
Presumed All Distributed
Back Room Duplicates
Author	Fox, D.; Golden, J.; Long, M.; Merems, A.
Risk	Habitat
Species
Disposition Of Requests	StreamNet Library: Requested, but no copies available

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? No