2001 Pacific Region State of the Ocean
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Pacific Region Ocean Status Report 2002 2001 Pacific Region State of the Ocean Background This report documents the state of the edited prior to transmission to Canada’s ocean for the year 2001. The physical, Marine Environmental Data Service chemical and biological state of the (MEDS) for archival in the national marine environment impacts the yield database. A working copy of the (growth, reproduction, survival, database is maintained at the Institute of distribution) of marine organisms as well Ocean Sciences in Sidney, British as the operations of the fishing industry. Columbia along with current meter, Changes in the state of the ocean may lighthouse and zooplankton data. contribute directly to variations in resource yield, reproductive potential, Executive Summary catch success, year-class strength, recruitment, and spawning biomass, as Oceanographic and meteorological well as influence the perceived health of conditions for the northeast Pacific and the ecosystem and the efficiency and coastal British Columbia in 2001 profitability of the fishing industry. reflected the moderate La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific Because of the importance of which began in 2000, following several environmental changes to marine previous years of strong El Niño like resources, extensive physical, chemical conditions (highlighted by the major and biological data are collected during events of 1991/92 and 1997/98). research vessel surveys. These data are However, ENSO cycles are only one augmented by time series measurements mode of variability that affects fish from coastal lightstations, moored population dynamics. Decadal-scale subsurface current meters, coastal tide variability on regimes are increasingly gauge stations, and moored being recognized as causing sudden meteorological (weather) buoys. shifts in production trends, especially for Additional information is provided by Pacific salmon. Even longer modes (70- satellite remote sensing (thermal 90 years) of variability may be important imagery, chlorophyll, and sea level for longer-lived species. heights), by observations from ships-of- opportunity and fishing vessels, and by In general, there has been a continuation satellite-tracked drifting buoys. of the changes that were described in last year’s report. These changes were Vessel survey data, tide gauge records, observed in large-scale climate indices moored surface meteorological and resulted in generally improved observations and drifting buoy data are June 2002 Pacific Region 2001 State of the Ocean productivity for a number of species. For example, record escapements were recorded for Fraser River pink salmon and Barkley Sound sockeye salmon. Coho salmon escapements were reported to be high for many coastal systems. This appears to reverse the state characterized by lower productivity throughout the 1990s. The impact for longer lived species remains to be determined, however there are initial indications that a number of groundfish species may be experiencing improved year class strength since 1999. The accumulating evidence of the profound impacts of climate and oceans on fish dynamics is an indication that the assessment of fishing impacts with respect to future production will have to include bio-physical data. Prepared by: Fisheries Oceanography Working Group G. A. McFarlane (Chair) 2 Pacific Region 2001 State of the Ocean Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Climate Indices.............................................................................................................................................. 5 Summary by Region...................................................................................................................................... 5 Gulf of Alaska ............................................................................................................................................ 5 West Coast of Vancouver Island................................................................................................................. 6 North Coast ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Strait of Georgia......................................................................................................................................... 9 Climate Indices............................................................................................................................................ 11 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 11 Global Air Temperature ........................................................................................................................... 11 Southern Oscillation................................................................................................................................. 13 Pacific Decadal Oscillation ...................................................................................................................... 14 Arctic Oscillation ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Aleutian Low Pressure ............................................................................................................................. 15 Length of Day........................................................................................................................................... 15 Atmospheric Forcing Index...................................................................................................................... 15 Gulf of Alaska.............................................................................................................................................. 16 Physical Conditions.................................................................................................................................. 16 Phytoplankton .......................................................................................................................................... 20 Zooplankton ............................................................................................................................................. 20 Humpback and Killer Whales .................................................................................................................. 21 West Coast of Vancouver Island................................................................................................................ 21 West Coast Meteorological Data.............................................................................................................. 23 West Coast Lighthouse Data .................................................................................................................... 24 Upwelling Indices .................................................................................................................................... 25 Water Level .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Southwest Vancouver Island Continental Slope (La Perouse Region) ..................................................... 26 Central Vancouver Island Continental Shelf (Estevan Point Region)....................................................... 27 Northern Vancouver Island Continental Shelf (Brooks Peninsula Region) .............................................. 28 Phytoplankton .......................................................................................................................................... 29 Zooplankton ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Shrimp...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Herring and Herring Recruitment............................................................................................................. 35 Pacific Sardine ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Hake ......................................................................................................................................................... 37 Growth & Energetic Status of Pacific Salmon ......................................................................................... 38 Seabird Reproductive Performance on Triangle Island and in Laskeek Bay (Queen Charlotte Islands).. 39 Year 2001 Performance on Triangle Island ......................................................................................... 39 Year 2001 Performance in Laskeek Bay.............................................................................................. 41 North Coast ................................................................................................................................................. 43 Winter sea level and temperature ............................................................................................................