Background: An overview of recent conditions in the California Current System is an annual event launching each CalCOFI Conference. In the past few years, PFEG has contributed to this oral presentation. For the first time, this year's presentation was given by a PFEG scientist.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: The presentation is an opportunity to inform scientists attending the CalCOFI Conference about recent conditions in the California Current region, primarily through the results of CalCOFI and NMFS surveys.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: The state of the California Current in 1995-1996 showed a fairly typical circulation, but warm SST anomalies for 1995 and much of 1996. Despite relatively high nutrient levels and chlorophyll concentrations inshore of the Current, macrozooplankton continued a pattern of low biomass.
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): Presentations such as this increase the visibility of NMFS research and its scientists within the fisheries oceanography community. They also provide a good general summary of recent conditions in the environment of commercial fish stocks on the west coast. The results will be summarized into a paper that will be published in the CalCOFI Reports.
Problems:
Key Contact: Frank Schwing (831-648-9034, fschwing@pfeg.noaa.gov)