Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: Completed.
Background: A symposium was organized at the 1999 annual meeting of the American Society for the Advancement of Science
entitled "Role of Estuaries in Sustaining Coastal Fisheries: Is there one?" The papers were organized on a regional basis
with five papers presented. A Southwest Fisheries Center scientist presented the paper on Southwestern North America.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: The symposium was designed to examine the paradigm that coastal fisheries show
a high dependence on the productivity of estuaries. This has been a closely held view, particularly on the US Atlantic and
Gulf coastal regions, but less so for the west coast and Alaska due to the lower extent of estuaries. Presentations focused on
this question and recent research results on the topic.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: Southwestern North America has a narrow continental shelf; bays and estuaries
are spatially limited as compared to counterpart features on the East and Gulf Coasts. The life histories of most marine fishes
lack estuarine dependent phases, and the role of bays and estuaries in productivity of coastal marine fisheries is limited.
Still, several species demonstrate some level of dependence upon these sheltered, inshore waters. Pacific herring, English sole,
and California halibut all depend to some degree on estuarine nursery areas. Bays and estuaries of the southwestern US are plagued by problems
of urbanization, pollution, freshwater withdrawal, and introduced species, which places further limits on their role in a productive coastal ocean.
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): Estuaries are an important component of
essential fish habitat, and the presentation of this paper provides an excellent comparative perspective on the importance of estuarine areas in regional
coastal fisheries production.
Problems: None
Key Contact: George Boehlert (831-648-8515, george.boehlert@noaa.gov)