Describe Temporal and Spatial Changes in the
California Commercial Landings Data

Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: A poster depicting this information was presented at the CalCOFI conference held at Scripps Institute November 13-14, 2002. A follow up paper is being prepared for submission to CalCOFI Reports describing some of the temporal changes in the landings.

Background: Commercial fish and invertebrates are landed in different proportions in the six coastal regions of California. Time series of these landings from 1928 to 2000, recorded by California Department of Fish and Game for the six regions, have been compiled by Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory of NOAA. This data base reveals the similarities across several ports during the sardine era of the 1930's and 1940's, followed by differences in dominant species between ports as the sardines disappeared.

Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: To understand and describe changes in California fisheries over 72 years, and to highlight the research uses of the online searchable database of California Commercial Landings developed by PFEG.

Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: A poster was presented at the CalCOFI conference highlighting some of the differences in species composition of the California landings over time in 6 regions. The dominant fisheries have changed from only small pelagics, to increasing and then decreasing amounts of tunas and groundfish. The dramatic increase in the proportion of invertebrates, to half the statewide landings in the 1990's, stands out in this time series. The poster also advertized our development of a data server on our website to provide time series of these landings to other scientists and to the public. This is the first time complete California monthly landings have been provided in a searchable online format back to 1928.

Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): This data set provides evidence of the lack of sustainability of California fisheries in the past and may help us incorporate past variability of landings into management strategies for the future.

Problems: This presentation was originally conceived as a verbal transaction, but was presented instead as a poster at the request of the CalCOFI conference committee.

Key Contact: Jan Mason (831-648-9028, jmason@pfeg.noaa.gov) or Lynn deWitt, (831-648-9036, ldewitt@pfeg.noaa.gov)