SSSeeeaaa AAArrrououounnnddd UUUsss T artists on; onewherewe(likethe daunting tasktoembark degradation? Itisa of widespread we dotocurbthedirection individually [2].Whatcan may notnoticeit oceans rely, ifwe even food supplyfromthe ecosystems onwhichour gradually erodingthe [1]. Weseemtobe tide withupsanddowns one-way currentthana appears tobemorelikea regional, orglobalscale, fisheries, atthelocal, tohappening theworld’s To many, what is Gulf Stream. climate changetoshiftthe more difficult–ittakes directing acurrent,itisfar back. Whenitcomestore- before pushingthewater tribution tothesolution. deliver oursmallcon- materials wecanuseto with, techniquesand idea of, andexperience We do, however, an have about solvingtheproblem. express howwewillgo p.2-3) cannotexplicitly The Sea Sea The The Sea Sea The The Sea Sea The The Sea Sea The The Sea Sea The for therightmoment predictable: justwait ides areafterall sensu Turning thetideiseasy Issue 33 – Januar – 33 Issue Issue 33 – Januar – 33 Issue Issue 33 – Januar – 33 Issue Issue 33 – Januar – 33 Issue Issue 33 – Januar – 33 Issue PietHein,see Around Us Project Ne Project Us Around Around Us Project Ne Project Us Around Around Us Project Ne Project Us Around Around Us Project Ne Project Us Around Around Us Project Ne Project Us Around by VillyChristensen up realisticfieldtrips.Asfor techniques weneedtoset component ofthe This providesanimportant environmental factors[5]. fisheries aswell must, asarule,include to explainhistorictrendswe learning intheprocessthat ecosystems [4].Weare history inmanymarine reproducing theknown quite capableof ( into of foragingarenatheory linked totheincorporation major stepsinrecentyears, modeling hastakensome approach isthatecosystem even considersuchan A necessaryfactorforusto We’ll reality. virtual try future actionswillhave? resources, andthoseour have hadonocean minister theimpactwe And howcanweshowthe of fisheriesonafieldtrip? How doyoutakeaminister pretending tobefarmers. kicking thedirtand when thereisacrisis, appear intheeveningnews Their agriculturalcolleagues fisheries actuallygotosea. that fewministersof We takeasastartingpoint EwE enough Ecopath ) [3],andmakingus with y/F y/F y/F y/F y/F Ecosim ebruar ebruar ebruar ebruar ebruar are made,wenote, of ecosystemmanagement the worldwheredecisions right media.Ifweexamine papers maywellbethe PowerPoint andtablesin presenting figuresin designed tothatend,and scientists. Ourtoolsare communicate withother are, asscientists,inclinedto added isvisualization.We The componenttobe human-behavior aspects. including economicand developed portfoliofor [8, 9],wenowhaveawell- of Clark,MunroandSumaila colleagues [7],andthework games ofWaltersand Levhari andMirman[6],the the ‘fish wars’ approachof simulations. Goingbackto the futurescenario up arealisticframeworkfor approaches, neededtoset gaming-theoretical Adding tothisisprogressin for thefield-tripsimulations. ecosystem modelsweneed parameterize the be useddirectlyto project (seep.5)thatcan through the suite ofglobaldatabases materials, wehaveathanda Continued on page 2 - Tide - 2 page on Continued Continued on page 2 - Tide - 2 page on Continued Continued on page 2 - Tide - 2 page on Continued Continued on page 2 - Tide - 2 page on Continued Continued on page 2 - Tide - 2 page on Continued y 2006 y y 2006 y y 2006 y y 2006 y y 2006 y wsletter wsletter wsletter wsletter wsletter Sea Around Us Around Sea Sea Around Us – January/February 2006 Page 2

Tide - Continued from page 1 management of specific current, remember?), but realize ecosystems. Prior to each that there are serious trade-off summit, we will work with issues to be dealt with in a world however, that it is one scientists from the given area to of ‘real-politik’ [10]. dominated by people with very produce an ecosystem model diverse backgrounds and describing the known history of We are currently well underway experience, and we need to exploitation. At the summit we with the software development consider means of will run through the ecosystem for the Ocean Summits, and one communication going beyond history visualized in 3D, above tangible initial result from it will our usual repertoire. and below the surface, and be a re-designed and re- Visualizations can provide Visualizations emphasizing ecological as well programmed version of the EwE powerful messages, and, when as social impacts of our software (for release September can provide building on the best available exploitation. This will set the 2007). A new version is required powerful science, the messages may also stage for forward-looking in order to link EwE to the messages, be convincing and enabling. scenarios aimed at quickly visualization software. The That’s our ambition. and, when exploring how ecosystem and visualization software is being building on society are likely to react to developed in close cooperation We have entered into management interactions and with the NECTAR project of the the best partnership with the Lenfest the resulting fishing pressure. Computer Science Department available Ocean Program The people at the table will of UBC and is drawing on science, the (www.lenfestocean.org/) to represent all aspects of the Vancouver’s status as a hub for develop a methodology for management process. For this, the computer gaming industry. messages “Ocean Summits” ambitiously may also be we are developing software that aimed at shifting the current. We incorporates multiple objectives We are, for the development, convincing envisage bringing together and management options, all as relying heavily on the scenario and decision-makers for two days’ part of a theoretical gaming laboratory of the newly opened enabling discussion about the approach. AERL building at UBC. This dark room (see picture, top of p. 4), While the visualizations and the which some consider the heart underlying modeling approach of the building, is designed with The Sea Around Us project newsletter is are important for conveying the intention of enabling the published by the Fisheries Centre at the impact, they will only set the form for cooperation and University of British Columbia. Included with stage for the deliberations visualization described here for the Fisheries Centre’s newsletter FishBytes,six around the table. The aim is to the Ocean Summits: a war-room issues of this newsletter are published enable discussions and display functionality. Technically, this is annually. Subscriptions are results of the decisions taken, achieved with focus on enabling free of charge. not to point to ‘best solutions’ to discussions around the table Our mailing be obtained, e.g., through while allowing all participants a address is: Sea optimizations (though such sense of immersion through Around Us project, optimizations are indeed large wall plasma screens, and a Aquatic Ecosystems feasible and will be used to sense of control via direct access Research provide reference points). We to information and management Laboratory, 2202 hope there will be win-win controls through the built-in scenarios emerging (shifting the Main Mall, Vancouver, Continued on page 5 - Tide British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4. Our fax he Sea Around Us project is a Fisheries Centre partner- number is (604) 822-8934, and our email ship with the Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia, address is [email protected]. All USA. The Trusts support nonprofit activities in the areas of queries (including reprint requests), TT culture, education, the environment, health and human serv- subscription requests, and address changes ices, public policy and religion. Based in Philadelphia, the Trusts should be addressed to Robyn Forrest, Sea make strategic investments to help organisations and citizens Around Us Newsletter Editor. develop practical solutions to difficult problems. In 2000, with The Sea Around Us website may be found approximately $4.8 billion in assets, the Trusts committed over at saup.fisheries.ubc.ca and contains up-to- $235 million to 302 nonprofit organisations. date information on the project.

ISSN 1713-5214 Sea Around Us (ONLINE) Page 3 Sea Around Us – January/February 2006 Piet Hein and the scenario lab table

After all, what is art? Art is the creative process and it goes through all fields. Einstein’s theory of relativity - now that is a work of art! What is the Einstein was more of an artist in physics simplest and than on his violin. most Art is this: pleasing art is the solution of a problem closed curve which cannot be expressed explicitly until it is solved. that Piet Hein (1905-1996) mediates fairly between the iet Hein was a good friend of Einstein, as well as of Bohr and Chaplin; the mathematician Norbert Weiner dedicated a book to Hein; he studied fine arts and clashing Pphilosophy, then quantum physics. He invented the Soma Cube while listening to a orthogonal lecture by Werner Heisenberg; he studied engineering, leading to industrial inventions and circular and design; he spent a good part of the Second World War underground as an outspoken shapes that anti-Nazi leader, while achieving eponymous fame writing short, double-meaning poems dominate for the leading Danish newspaper – he eventually wrote some 10,000 of such ‘grooks’ (see Box, p.5); he invented numerous games with a mathematical touch, one the basis for our the TV game show ‘Blockbusters’; he was a productive writer in philosophy, humanity and surroundings? science; and … he invented the superellipse.

This came about when, in the early 1960s, he was asked to solve a design problem as part of a major city-planning project in Stockholm. He turned the problem into the intriguing question: what is the simplest and most pleasing closed curve that mediates fairly between the clashing orthogonal and circular shapes that dominate our surroundings? [11]. The A superellipse: search led him to discover the superellipse, a special form of an ellipse. Ellipses are mathematically defined as:

2 2 ⎛ x ⎞ ⎛ y ⎞ ⎜ ⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ = 1 ⎝ a ⎠ ⎝ b ⎠

Piet Hein, however, generalized the equation (as Lamé had done before him) by using variable exponents, and found that as the exponents were increased above 2, the shape gradually transformed toward a rectangular form. He called such shapes ‘superellipses’, and found the shape with exponents of 2.5 especially pleasing from an aesthetical point of view. They are a beautiful compromise between a circle and a rectangle (see right). Pictures of Piet Hein and the superellipse Continued on page 4 - Piet Hein from www.piethein.com Sea Around Us – January/February 2006 Page 4

We all wanted a table where there was no “us and them”; a table that would encourage cooperation The scenario lab., featuring the superellipse table Photo by Calvin Lo among Piet Hein - Continued from page 3 those at it Indeed, the shape spread like wildfire and soon it was used for buildings, plazas, sport centres (notably the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City), board games, drink coolers, anti-stress balls, candle holders, lamps, dishes, trays, beds … and not the least tables.

We now have such a superellipse table in the AERL building.

It is the centerpiece of the scenario laboratory of the AERL, the new home of the Fisheries Centre. In discussions with Prof Douw Steyn, Associate Dean of Research and responsible for the AERL building process, and architect Greg Boothroyd, we considered a variety of shapes for the table. We all wanted a table where there was no “us and them”; a table that would encourage cooperation among those at it. The round table of King Arthur fame springs to mind for several reasons, but the scenario lab is rectangular and a round table would not seat enough participants. Piet Hein’s superellipse provides the solution (see picture above). Expressed mathematically we have for any point along the table length (x) that the width (y) can be obtained from:

m n 2.5 0.4 ⎛ x ⎞ ⎛ y ⎞ ⎡ ⎛ x ⎞ ⎤ ⎜ ⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ = 1, with m = n = 2.5 we have y = b ⋅ ⎢1 − ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ ⎝ a ⎠ ⎝ b ⎠ ⎣⎢ ⎝ a ⎠ ⎦⎥

where the length a = 380 cm and the width b = 260 cm. With the equation in hand, Greg Boothroyd and colleagues at Patkau Architects designed the table, and Boelling Smith Design created the beautifully-crafted table, which now stands complete with 10 built-in workstations and 12 seats. Also, Renee Stewart-Smith from PJS Systems has done an incredible job connecting dozens of cables between the workstations, the adjacent control room, screens and computers to the right places.

It is a beauty of a table - everyone can see everyone else at it. There is no “us and them”. Or in Piet Hein’s words: “Co-existence or no existence”. Page 5 Sea Around Us – January/February 2006

“Grooks” by Piet Hein

THE ETERNAL TWINS LILLE KAT, LILLE KAT SOCIAL MECHANISM Taking fun Lille kat, lille kat, When people always as simply fun lille kat på vejen try to take and earnestness Hvis er du? the very smallest piece of cake in earnest Hvis er du? how can it also shows how thoroughly Jeg er s’gu min egen. always be thou none that that’s the one of the two that’s left for me? discernest. For more grooks try www.chat.carleton.ca/~tcstewar/grooks/grooks.html or Google for “grooks”.

Tide - Continued from page 2 workstations as well as to the Islands using ecosystem or the simulations we Where the resulting impacts. models. Canadian Journal of need extensive art comes in Fisheries and Aquatic Finformation about is in getting Sciences. environmental impact: past, Technically, the modeling and the summit visualizations represent a clear 6. Levhari, D. and L.J. Mirman. present and future. For this, we 1980.The great fish war: an participants challenge, but it is one we are are cooperating with several example using a dynamic fairly certain we can meet, research groups specializing in to explore Cournot-Nash solution. The predicting ocean productivity and adopt making it a technical and Bell Journal of Economics scientific challenge, rather than based on climatic drivers and management 11(1), 322-334. incorporating it in climate models. art sensu Piet Hein. Where the 7. Walters, C.J. 1994. Use of options art comes in is in getting the We can mention the European gaming procedures in Commission’s Joint Research that will summit participants to explore evaluation of management Centre in Ispra, Italy; CSIRO Hobart; change the and adopt management options experiments. Canadian Princeton University; as well as the that will change the direction Journal of Fisheries and direction we have taken in most Aquatic Sciences 51(12), Climate Modelling Centre at we have ecosystems – in shifting the 2705-2714. University of Victoria. Resulting from this are spatial predictions taken in current. 8. Clark, C.W. et al. 2005. most Subsidies, buybacks, and about primary and secondary References sustainable fisheries. Journal productivity spanning a century ecosystems 1. Pauly, D. et al. 2003. The future of Environmental Economics from 1950. for fisheries. Science and Management 50(1), 47- 302(5649), 1359-1361. 58. Through the Sea Around Us 2. Pauly, D. 1995. Anecdotes and 9. Sumaila, U.R. and C. Walters. project we have information the shifting baseline 2005. Intergenerational about spatial catches back to syndrome of fisheries. Trends discounting: a new intuitive 1950; effort data has been added in Ecology & Evolution 10(10), approach. Ecological through the thesis work of Ahmed 430. Economics 52(2), 135-142. Gelchu, Heather Keith and Robert 3. Walters, C.J. and S.J.D. Martell. 10. Walters, C.J. and F.C. Ahrens; while those of Kristin 2004. Fisheries ecology and Coleman. 2004. Proceedings Kaschner, Line Bang Christensen management. Princeton of the fourth William R. and and Vaso Karpouzi have added University Press, Princeton, Lenore Mote international marine mammal and bird symposium in fisheries 399 pp. information. Information about ecology, November 5-7, 2002, 4. Christensen, V. and C.J. population trends for marine Sarasota, Florida - Confronting Walters. 2005. Using organisms (3000 records globally) ecosystem modeling for trade-offs in the ecosystem has been added through a fisheries management: Where approach to fisheries database developed by Jordan are we? ICES C.M., M:19. management - Preface. Beblow. Prices (and soon cost of 5. Guénette, S. et al. in review. Bulletin of Marine Science Evaluating the combined 74(3), 489-490. fishing and trade of fisheries effects of fishing, predation, 11. Gardner, M. 1965. The products) are available through competition, and ocean “Superellipse”: a curve that the work of Rashid Sumaila and productivity on Steller sea lion lies between the ellipse and colleagues. See in Southeast Alaska and the the rectangle, Scientific www.seaaroundus.org for western and central Aleutian American, Sept., 1965. further information. Sea Around Us – January/February 2006 Page 6 Thinking big: a global look at fisheries science May 2nd, 2006 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada A symposium to honour Professor Daniel Pauly for the 13th International Cosmos Prize and his 60th Birthday he University of British Columbia is proud to host a celebratory symposium at the University, on the occasion of Professor Pauly’s 60th Birthday. Distinguished international colleagues will give invited lectures with focus on topics Trepresenting Prof Pauly’s career, with further festivities at dinner. A student forum and public lectures will follow on Wednesday May 3rd. We are pleased to be able to announce the following schedule of events. For more information visit http://thinkingbig.fisheries.ubc.ca/index.php or email us at [email protected].

Tuesday, May 2, 2006 Time Title Speaker 9:00am Welcome 9:05am UBC celebrating research John Hepburn 9:15am Issue-driven research and interdiscipliarity Frieda Granot

Capacity building 9:30am Science and education: capacity building as part of the international development agenda Gotthilf Hempel & Cornelia Nauen 9:55am Tropical fish biology, a review John Munro

Life in the Oceans 10:50am Life history strategies of marine fishes Rainer Froese 11:15am Evolving fisheries management Annadel Cabanban & Jose Ingles 11:40am Patterns of life in upwelling oceans Philippe Cury & Andrew Bakun 12:05pm Farming up and down Roger Pullin

Evaluating impacts on marine life 1:30pm Shifting baselines: what was natural in the oceans? Jeremy Jackson 1:55pm Fishing down the food web Kostas Stergiou

The human side 2:20pm Social research for sustainable fisheries: evaluating global impact of small scale fisheries Ratana Chuenpagdee 2:45pm Social science aspects of small scale fisheries Kenneth Ruddle

Impacting policy 3:40pm Policy impact: linking science and conservation Joshua Reichert 4:05pm The scientist as communicator Nancy Baron 4:30pm Linking fisheries and conservation science Carl Safina 4:55pm Closing Remarks

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Student Symposium Morning Discussion sessions 1:00pm Public lecture at UBC: Dr. Jeremy Jackson 5:00pm Public lecture at Robson Square: Dr. Carl Safina

Note: Times listed are subject to change. For details of timing of social events and meals, see http://thinkingbig.fisheries.ubc.ca/schedule/index.php .