SMA Research and Outreach Activities

Assessing the Extent to which Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Implements an Ecosystem Approach

PI: David L. Fluharty, Associate Professor
Sponsor: National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)
Amount: $20,000  |  Duration: 9/17/06-9/30/07

Abstract: The Northwest Fisheries Science Center and its partners engage in a wide variety of research and advising in the marine and upland Environment of Puget Sound. The proposed research will assess the extent to which this research and advising supports an ecosystem approach to management in the region.

Institutional Arrangements for Ecosystem-based Management in Alaska Marine Regions

PI: David L. Fluharty, Associate Professor
Sponsor: North Pacific Research Board  |  Award: $89,640

This project entails the examination of the major federal and state management institutions with jurisdiction in waters off Alaska with respect to their past and present use of ecosystem-based management,

Climate Impacts Group (CIG)

PI: Ed Miles, Professor; and faculty from other UW departments
Sponsor: NOAA, Office of Global Programs  |  Award: $995,000  |  Duration: 2004-2005
Website: http://www.cses.washington.edu/cig/

The Climate Impacts Group, which as created in 1995, is an interdisciplinary research group studying the impacts of natural climate variability and global climate change (“global warming”) on the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Through research and interaction with regional stakeholders, the CIG works to increase the resilience of the Pacific Northwest to fluctuations in climate. The CIG's research focuses on four key sectors of the PNW environment: water resources, aquatic ecosystems, forests, and coasts.

The CIG is the first of NOAA's Regional Integrated Sciences Assessment Program (RISA) teams. Currently, eight regional teams focus on the intersection of climate science and public policy, performing fundamental research on climate impacts and work with PNW planners and policy makers to apply this information to regional decision making processes.

Understanding Lummi Perspectives of Marine Resource Management and Marine
Protected Areas

PI: Patrick Christie and Marc Hershman, School of Marine Affairs, University of
Washington, and Roberto Gonzalez-Plaza, Northwest Indian College
Sponsor: Washington Sea Grant  |  Award: $166,563  |  Duration: Feb 2007–December, 2009

This project will collect data on Lummi Indian perspectives on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their value as management tools. It will also foster collaborative efforts among Lummi leaders and non-tribal marine policy makers to develop a mutually acceptable policy for MPAs in Puget Sound. These efforts will occur in the context of a jointly hosted UW School of Marine Affairs and Northwest Indian College course, developing students's social science skills while building institutional bridges between native and non-native partners.

Extending Lesson from the Steller Sea Lion Controversy: Getting Ahead of the North Fur Seal Curve

PI: Marc Hershman, Professor; Collaborator: Beth Bryant, Research Associate
Sponsor: North Pacific Research Board (NPRB)  |  Award: $35,173  |  Duration: May 2006-March 2007

The goal of this study is to conduct an integrated assessment of law, policy, and science factors affecting Northern fur seal management and compare this situation with the SSL management context to draw implications about which management strategies may be more effective for enhancing learning and minimizing litigation.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Project

PI: Marc Hershman, Professor; Collaborator: Beth Bryant, Research Associate
Sponsor: NOAA  |  Award: $376,981  |  Duration: 2002-2005

The purpose of this project is to examine how NOAA Fisheries scientists are responding to the challenge of managing North Pacific living marine resources within a complex multi-statutory regulatory regime and during a time of increasing litigation pressure. Our objective is to conduct workshops, publish research papers, train students, and develop procedures and informational tools that will help NOAA Fisheries and the NPFMC meet legal requirements in this area.

NEPA EIS Research and Writing

PI: Marc Hershman, Professor; Collaborator: Beth Bryant, Research Associate
Sponsor: North Pacific Fisheries Management Council  |  Award: $148,000  |  Duration: 2003-2006

Student research assistants work with staff of the NOAA Fisheries North Pacific Regional Office and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to provide research and writing support in meeting new regulatory and analytical requirements. Two students are supported.

No projects at this time.

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)

PI: Tom Leschine
Sponsor: U. S. Corp of Engineers (CoE)  |  Award: $114,737  |  Duration: 12/1/04-9/30/07

The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) has since 2001 been involved in analyzing the status and needs of Puget Sound nearshore ecosystems for the purpose of developing a science based planning program for Sound-wide nearshore restoration. Integrated into this planning effort are research scientists, technical experts, planners, engineers and local community outreach professionals. Specific to this effort, PSNERP has formed a Nearshore Science Team (NST) to provide overall guidance on scientific research and technical analyses to inform this restoration planning. Since its inception, the University of Washington (UW) has been an active participant on the NST and instrumental in these analyses, product development and outreach. Several professors, graduates students and support staff from multiple departments have been involved and are expected to remain involved for the period of this RWO. The School of Marine Affairs is one of the UW units involved in this project.

Governance Feasibility of Marine Ecosystem-Based Management: A Comparative Analysis

PI: Patrick Christie; co-PI: Robert Pomeroy

Our National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) project, focusing on ecosystem-based management (EBM) has three main goals:

1. assessing how to modify governance structures to facilitate effective marine ecosystem-based management (EBM) in developing and developed world contexts;
2. generating practical ecological and social indicators for EBM, and
3. producing analyses and planning materials useful for scientists, EBM practitioners, and policy makers around the world.

It will draw together disparate, socio-ecological datasets from the Philippines, Southwestern Africa, the Caribbean, and Hawaii Island to assess EBM success as measured by common social and ecological goals of various programs. This analysis will result in synthetic peer reviewed journal articles and provide the basis for an empirically-based how-to guidebook and training program to support coastal EBM.

NCEAS (University of California Santa Barbara) provides the intellectual atmosphere, facilities, equipment, and staff support to promote the analysis and synthesis of information. Since 1995, NCEAS has hosted 3,500 individuals and supported 370 projects that have yielded more than 1,000 scientific articles. The projects have produced a wide array of outcomes, from specific results to general knowledge about our discipline and its application to the management of resources. Further information is available online:

• NCEAS
• EBM project

A Case-study of the Impacts of the CITES Listing of Sea Horses on the Status of the Species and the Effects on Human Well-being in the Philippines

PI: Patrick Christie
Sponsor: United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) | Amount: $53,000 | Duration: 10/1/2006-9/30/2007

At the 12th Conference of the Parties to CITES in 2002, a total of 32 species of sea horses Hippocampus species were listed on CITES Appendix II, with implementation of the regulations delayed until May 2004. Six of the species were listed under the criteria of Annex IIa (i.e. they were considered to be at risk of becoming endangered) while the other 26 species of the genus were placed on Appendix II under the conditions of Annex IIb (i.e., under the ‘look-alike’ clause so as to assist in the enforcement of regulations concerning the six Annex IIa species). 

The Philippines has been the locality of important fisheries for sea horses and, for example, one study has estimated that up to 40% of some fishers’ income may be derived from sea horses.¹ This study will use the Philippines as a case-study to investigate the conservation, social and economic impacts of the listing of seahorses. It will involve site-visits and collection of local information leading to a scientific evaluation of i) whether the listing has or is likely to significantly affect the fishing mortality and/or status of sea horses and ii) whether it has had significant social and economic impacts on the local communities involved in capture and marketing of the species.

Principle Questions and Areas of Inquiry

1. Has the listing of seahorse under CITES:
   • significantly affected the fishing mortality and/or status of sea horses or is it likely to in the future, after the listing has been in place for a longer period?
   • had significant social and economic impacts on the local communities involved in capture and marketing of the species?
   • had a significant impact on conservation strategies that were initiated prior to the listing?
2. Recommendations, where appropriate, on means and approaches which could improve the potential benefits of the listing on the status of threatened species of seahorse and mitigate or avoid any negative social or economic impacts.

Native Consumers as Agents of Biotic Resistance

PI: Terrie Klinger, Assistant Professor
Sponsor: California State University Fullerton   |  Award: $17,729  |  Duration: March 1-December 31, 2006

Study the effect of the native marine snail Lacuna on the invasive Japanese seaweed Sargassum muticum in the San Juan Archipelago of Washington State. Sargassum was introduced to Washington in the early 20th century, and first appeared in the San Juans in the 1950s. The native snail Lacuna occurs in high densities on Sargassum.

Assessment of Coastal Water Resources & Estuarine Conditions in Selected National Parks of the Pacific NW

Co-PIs: Terrie Klinger, Assistant Professor, and David Fluharty, Associate Professor
Sponsor: Department of the Interior, National Park Service  |  Award: $105,663  |  Duration: July 2004-March 2006

The principal investigators and two research assistants will work with Park and National Park Service personnel to identify sources of data and other information regarding the status of coastal water resources in four National Parks in the Pacific Northwest region; assess the state of knowledge regarding coastal water resources in these Parks; identify important biophysical factors and physical forcing mechanisms; identify current and imminent threats from human activities; and develop a report for each park that summarizes our findings and offers recommendation for continuing studies.

For more information about research at the University of Washington visit: http://www.washington.edu/research/

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