CALCOFI 

 BASIC STATION PLAN 



-■•*:.>•; v\S^ 





Figure 13. — Basic pattern for California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investiga- 

 tions (CalCOFI) stations in survey areas off California and Baja California. 



fishes (Miller and Lea 1972). In addition, 40 species of pelagic 

 cephalopods are known to inhabit the waters off southern 

 California and Baja California, Mexico (Young 1972). The 

 abundance of these species (cephalopods) is greatest in south- 

 ern California, gradually declining northward correlated with 

 increasing latitude and decreasing minimum surface tempera- 

 ture. They contribute only a small percentage to the commer- 

 cial catch of fish (Horn 1980). Among the top 10 commercial 

 fish landings in California, tunas contribute approximately 

 55% (primarily caught outside of California). Also among the 

 top 10 are 4 of the major forage species of fur seals which total 

 34%: Anchovy 24%, jack mackerel 6%, L. opalescens 3%, 

 and rockfish 1% (Oliphant 1973). The commercial landings of 

 forage species significant to fur seals feeding off California are 

 shown in Figure 14. 



The prey of fur seals along with other fish and invertebrates 

 play an important role in the complex food web off California 

 (Fig. 15). The prey species, including squids, anchovy, Pacific 

 whiting, and rockfish, shown in the food web, are also among 

 the most abundant species in the California Current System. 

 Antonelis and Fiscus (1980) summarized the known prey of 

 pinnipeds inhabiting the CalCOFI study area and indicate that 

 there is a wide range in the list of prey consumed in the area by 

 these pinnipeds. Many consume the same prey but differ pri- 

 marily by foraging in different zones. Ainley and Sanger 

 (1979) reported that most seabirds feed as secondary and ter- 

 tiary carnivores and that certain of their prey characteristically 

 occur as the predominant items in the diets of other marine 



Figure 14. — Commercial landings of forage species significant to 

 northern fur seals off California (from Frey 1971). 



1915 1920 1915 



14 



