Seminar on Ecosystem Assessment

Seascape.\Photo by Sara Schreiber.

The seminar series offered by the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) has moved online during the coronavirus era.  These seminars are free and open to the public.

Next up is Gordon Kruse, Professor Emeritus in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  On Thursday, May 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m., he will conduct a virtual seminar on “Developing a placed-based participatory Integrated Ecosystem Assessment framework for coastal communities in the Gulf of Alaska.”  The webinar is offered to introduce the concept of Integrated Ecosystem Assessment.

Here is Dr. Kruse’s description of his topic:

“Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) is a framework that organizes science to aid a transition from traditional single-species management to ecosystem-based management. Within the Gulf of Alaska large marine ecosystem, we identified coastal fishing communities based on geographic location and relevance for Alaska’s federally managed fisheries to allow us to develop localized, smaller-scale IEA frameworks with active engagement of local stakeholders. We completed the first stage of the IEA loop for Sitka, a Southeast Alaska community, involving the following steps: (1) project scoping (definition of spatiotemporal scale and focal species), (2) identification of local ecosystem components and threats, and (3) development of socio-ecological conceptual models. These conceptual models were co-produced by scientists and local stakeholders using data gathered from participatory workshops and an extensive literature review of ecosystem attributes driving the abundance of four focal species: Pacific halibut, Pacific herring, Chinook salmon, and sablefish. Next, we developed qualitative network models, which are mathematical representations of conceptual models in which perturbations of individual variables can be assessed for their qualitative impact on the entire system. Simulations were conducted to test different environmental scenarios while evaluating tradeoffs across human well-being components. Several potential sustainable management strategies resulted from this integrated approach.”  

For the live broadcast of the VIRTUAL Thursday Seminar, visit:  https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/94555731151 or  call +1-971-247-1195 US Meeting ID: 945 5573 1151

For recordings of past Thursday Seminars, visit:  http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/pastseminars