Research and monitoring
There are three primary types of research that are needed to deal with climate change. The first is to study appropriate management systems that will allow regional and global fisheries to reach sustainability as the climate changes. The second is to study ecological systems in the ocean to learn how the many parts interact among themselves and in conjunction with human fishing pressure. The third is to monitor what is happening in regional and global fisheries so that appropriate actions can be taken, and at the correct time. Study management systems If fisheries are to be sustainable, there must be effective stewardship regimes throughout the world. Such regimes are slow to develop and are jeopardized by unexpected changes to the abundance and distribution of the species they manage. Many types of systems are in place or have been hypothesized. Thorough research on the best mechanisms, particularly those that can deal with varying species abundance and distributions is needed. Study ecological systems In recent years, both nationally and inter-nationally, there has been growing interest in conducting research at the ecosystem level and then using that information to mage a higher scale than the species-by-species approach that is generally used today. This is the key to global sustainability of marine fisheries. It is essential whether or not global warming is underway. The basic knowledge of the relationships among predators, preys, environment, reproduction and economics are inadequately known. While a progress is occurring at an increasing rate, partly because of international frameworks now in place, it is far below that needed, or that is possible. The progress made in recent years gives confidence that this is a tractable problem. Monitor what is happening Through national efforts and newly developing international efforts (such as GLOBEC and GOOS), monitor changes in ecosystems to stay abreast of developments that may be due to climate change or other elements. In conjunction with this monitoring, develop a set of triggers or anticipated responses that would indicate change is taking place, and, in advance, determine what should be done about it. Only in this way will institutions be prepared to deal with changes and their ramifications.   Prepared by John Everett Fishery Resources Division     Top		links Adaptation strategies Environmental variability further information GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) US GLOBEC (Global ocean ecosystems dynamics) additional reading Everett, J.T., E. Okemwa, H.A. Regier, J.P. Troadec, A. Krovnin, and D. Lluch-Belda (1995): Fisheries. In: The IPCC Second Assessment Report, Volume 2: Scientific-Technical Analyses of Impacts, Adaptations, and Mitigation of Climate Change (Watson, R.T., M.C. Zinyowera, and R.H. Moss (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, 31 pp. Everett, J.T. (1997): Fisheries and Climate Change: the IPCC Second Assessment, in Developing and Sustaining World Fisheries Resources: The State of Science and Management (Hancock, D.A., D.C.Smith, A. Grant, and J.P. Beumer (eds.) Proceedings of the Second World Fisheries Congress, Brisbane. Everett, J.T. and H.S. Bolton (1996): Lessons In Climate Change Projections and Adaptation: From One Living Marine Resource to Another, in Proceedings: Cetaceans and Climate Change Symposium, International Whaling Commission.