736 



50 



Appendix IV.K. 



Title: California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) 



Issue; How can we predict the success of pelagic fishery stocks? 



Relevance: Predictions can be used to manage the fisheries (sardine, mackerel, anchovy). 



Background And Approach: Warnings of the imminent collapse of the sardine fishery in the 

 1940's prompted California biologists and oceanographers to pool resources and start 

 monitoring fish, plankton and oceanographic processes at a scale encompassing the California 

 current ecosystem. Cooperation between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 

 California Fish and Game Department, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Hopkins 

 Marine Station lead to joint monthly, quarterly and annual cruises along the present transect 

 from Oregon to Baja California. Dynamics of sardine population and recruitment were defined 

 in the context of interannual ocean variability. Predictions were made and provided to 

 managers for action. The program continues today. 



Partners: Scripps Institution of Oceanography; NMFS La Jolla (NOAA vessels), California 

 Department of Fish and Game (state vessels); Hopkins Marine Station. Additional 

 partnerships have included Mexican fishery and oceanographic agencies. 



Motivating Factor: Partnerships developed because issues covered huge geographic areas, and 

 expertise existed within a broad base of federal, state, academic and industrial sectors. There 

 was a need to respond to the outcry to do something about declining fisheries. 



Products: Predictive capability for sardine and related pelagic fish was developed and 

 disseminated. CalCOFI atlases of the oceanography and productivity of California current was 

 produced. New species reports and life histories of hundreds of species were prepared. 

 Hundreds of administrative and technical reports and peer-reviewed publications ensued. 



Impact Or Benefits: Target stock has been protected and is now recovering. 

 Associated species stocks have been protected and have been recovering. Major understanding 

 was developed regarding long-term changes in fishery stocks and the forces that control them. 

 The program provided the first documents on the impact of El Nino on US fisheries. 



Lessons Learned: Fisheries operate on long-term, large scale basis. One organization can't 

 persist with long-term, large scale programs. CalCOFI succumbed to funding cuts in 1970's 

 and suffered a critical data "hole". 



