Evaluating use of seabird data, identifying entry points, and building bridges to inform US fisheries management

Abstract

Recent shifts in fisheries management towards understanding dynamics of both managed and un-managed species rely on incorporating ecosystem information. As known indicators of marine conditions, seabirds can play a role in ecosystem-based fisheries management. Specifically, recognition of seabird-prey linkages led to a call for inclusion of seabird data in fisheries stock assessments; however, this has never been evaluated. In this paper, we examine use of seabird information in US federal fisheries management over the past 20 years. We reviewed fisheries stock assessments by management regions and scored each on its use of seabird information. The majority of stock assessments (55%) lacked any seabird information; of those that did incorporate seabird information, most did so just as background information (38%). Qualitative use of seabird information, where data were considered in relation to assessment model output, but not explicitly linked to parameters, was uncommon (∼7%). Even rarer (<1%) was the quantitative use of seabird data explicitly in stock assessment models. The use of seabird information increased over time, primarily in Alaskan groundfish stock assessments, where seabird data were included in ecosystem considerations as part of a risk table framework. No other management region saw an increase in qualitative or quantitative use of seabird data in stock assessments; however, seabird indicators are now regularly included in some regional ecosystem status reports produced for fishery management councils. Rather than being directly used in assessment modelling, seabird data will likely contribute through indirect use via other entry points in the fisheries management process (e.g. new indicators, risk tables, fishery ecosystem plans). Building bridges between seabird and fisheries scientists through increased communication and collaboration could boost the use of these non-traditional data and enhance the use of seabird and ecosystem information in the US fisheries management process.