19931993 -- 20002000 ReportReport TheThe FFisheriesisheries CentrCentree UnivUniversityersity ofof BritishBritish ColumbiaColumbia Forewords want to congratulate all the members of the Fisheries Centre whose Iachievements are recorded in this excellent report. Over a very short time period, the Centre has contributed many exciting new initiatives in the areas of sustainable development and the planned growth of our fisheries. British Columbia is a vast treas- ure-house of natural resources, but we must exercise responsible stewardship over the complex ecosystems that surround us if we hope to preserve that treasure for future generations. The Fisheries Centre brings together government agencies, First Nations, and the University in a vital collaboration, offering an excellent model of how to ad- dress an issue of both regional and global importance through multidisciplinary research and teaching. Many problems lie ahead, but this report gives us reason to be optimistic about our ability to find solutions. DR MARTHA PIPER PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA am delighted that, in its first eight years, the Fisheries Centre is successfully Ifulfilling its mandate as one of 26 interdisciplinary research units within the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The output reviewed in this report not only underlines the Centres influential global role in its field, but also reflects the remarkable drive and enthusiasm of its members. An internal report in 1996 identified poor accommodation as one of the main weaknesses and so we are pleased to see reported here the success in attracting Canada Foundation for Innovation funding that will provide a new home for Fisheries Centre members. The Faculty of Graduate Studies is proud to provide con- tinuing support for the Fisheries Centre in its activities. DR FRIEDA GRANOT DEAN, FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Fisheries Centre University of British Columbia 2204 Main Mall Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4 +1 (604) 822-2731 Fax: +1 (604) 822-8934 Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.fisheries.ubc.ca © Fisheries Centre, 2001 The Ecosystem Imperative Research performed at the Fisheries Centre aims to reconcile the extraction of sustainable economic and social benefits from human fisheries with the conservation of biodiversity, the integrity of ecological services, and the preservation of recreational and intrinsic value from natural aquatic ecosystems. This Report is dedicated to Professor John Grace, former Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of British Columbia, whose leadership, in 1992, caused the Fisheries Centre to be founded. Fisheries Centre, Faculty of Graduate Studies University of British Columbia Page 1 Contents Page THE ECOSYSTEM IMPERATIVE ............................................................................................................................................ 1 PREFACE:THE FISHERIES CENTRE AND A NEW THALASSOCRACY .............................................................................................. 4 THE FISHERIES CENTRE .................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Larkin Legacy ................................................................................................................... 7 History ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Mission and Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 10 Centre Activities .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Research ................................................................................................................................................... 11 International Conferences and Workshops ............................................................................................. 11 Research Seminar Series ......................................................................................................................... 12 The Larkin Lectures ................................................................................................................ 12 Opening the Doors: Aboriginal Initiatives ............................................................................... 13 Student Voices ....................................................................................................................... 13 Graduate Teaching .................................................................................................................................. 13 Aboriginal Initiatives ............................................................................................................................... 13 Professional Training .............................................................................................................................. 14 Other Professional Activities ................................................................................................................... 15 Fisheries Centre Academic Plan 2000 .................................................................................................... 15 Financing ................................................................................................................................................. 16 A Hive of Activity .................................................................................................................. 16 Output of the Fisheries Centre ...................................................................................................................... 17 Publications ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Software, Databases and the Dissemination of Information.................................................................. 17 The Team ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 Core Members and Staff .......................................................................................................................... 19 Marine Mammal Research Unit .............................................................................................................. 19 BC Fisheries Research and Development Section .................................................................................. 20 Government Affairs ..............................................................................................................20 Graduate Students ................................................................................................................................... 21 International Advisory Council ............................................................................................................... 21 Accommodation and Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 22 The Fisheries Ecosystem Research Laboratory ...................................................................................... 22 RESEARCH THEMES ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 The Ecosystem Imperative ............................................................................................................................ 23 Ecosystems and Fisheries .............................................................................................................................. 24 Forecasting the Impact of Fisheries ........................................................................................................ 24 Estimating the True Fish Catch ........................................................................................................ 25 Ecosystem Modelling ........................................................................................................................ 26 Improving the Accuracy of Ecopath Inputs ............................................................................. 26 Development of Ecopath ................................................................................................................... 27 Some Applications of Ecopath with Ecosim ..................................................................................... 29 Prince William Sound and the Exxon Valdez .......................................................................... 30 Towards Aquatic Ecosystem Policies ...................................................................................................... 31 Fishing Down Marine Food Webs .................................................................................................... 32 Back to the Future ............................................................................................................................. 32 What Is It Worth to Reconstruct the Past? .............................................................................. 33 Sea Around Us ..................................................................................................................................