External Review of Ecosystem Sciences Program in the Pacific Islands

In 2016, a panel of independent experts reviewed the Science Center's ecosystem sciences program.

About

NOAA Fisheries began a systematic peer review process in 2013 at all six regional science centers. During the 2016 review, the independent panel learned about ecosystem science information needs, priorities, and research activities that are relevant to current programs at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. The review panel provided input on ways to improve the quality of ecosystem science programs.

Panel of experts:

Chair: Dr. Jo-Ann Leong, External Scientist, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
Dr. Michael Fogarty, NOAA Fisheries Scientist, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Dr. Cisco Werner, Science Center Director, Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Dr. Chris Kelble, NOAA Scientist, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
Dr. Anne Cohen, External Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Dr. Jeff Drazen, External Scientist, University of Hawaiʻi

For additional information, please contact PIFSC.

This Program Review was open to the public at the NOAA offices on Pier 38 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Schedule

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Monday, April 4, 2016

8:30 AM - Welcome, Business Rules, and Introductions — Michael Seki

8:45 AM - Instructions to Panel and Terms of Reference — Michael Seki

9:15 AM - NOAA Fisheries Program Reviews — Richard Merrick

9:30 AM - A National Perspective on Ecosystem-related Efforts — Jason Link

9:45 AM - Break

10:00 AM - Introduction to PIFSC and Ecosystem Sciences Division — Michael Seki

10:30 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Management Needs — Michael Tosatto

11:00 AM - Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Management Needs — Paul Dalzell

11:30 AM - Public Q&A

12:00 PM - Lunch

Theme I: Data and Climate Science

1:00 PM - NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy — Jeffrey Polovina

1:45 PM - Projecting Impacts and Vulnerability to Climate Change — Thomas Oliver

2:15 PM - Break

2:30 PM - Data Management and Dissemination — Troy Kanemura

3:00 PM - OceanWatch — Melanie Abecassis

3:30 PM - Public Q&A

4:00 PM - Panel Review and Discussion (closed session)

5:00 PM - Adjourn

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

8:30 AM - Schedule for the Day – Terms of Reference Questions and Themes

Theme II: Pelagic Ecosystem Science

8:45 AM - Overview of Pelagic Ecosystem Research — Jeffrey Polovina

9:15 AM - Protected Species Pelagic Ecology — Jeffrey Polovina

10:00 AM - Break

10:15 AM - Climate Impacts on Pelagic Ecosystems — Phoebe Woodworth-Jefcoats

10:45 AM - Oceanic Monitoring and Sampling — Phoebe Woodworth-Jefcoats

11:15 AM - Public Q&A

11:45 AM - Lunch

12:45 PM - An Ecosystem Approach to Pelagic Fisheries — Jeffrey Polovina

1:30 PM - Connectivity and Transport Modeling — Donald Kobayashi

2:15 PM - Break

2:30 PM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Pelagic Management Needs — Jarad Makaiau

3:00 PM - Pelagic Ecosystem Science Future Directions — Jeffrey Polovina

3:30 PM - Public Q&A

4:00 PM - Panel Review and Discussion (closed session)

5:00 PM - Adjourn

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

8:30 AM - Schedule for the Day – Terms of Reference Questions and Themes

Theme III: Coral Reef Ecosystem Science

8:45 AM - Overview of Coral Reef Ecosystem Research — Rusty Brainard

9:30 AM - Benthic Habitat Mapping — Annette DesRochers

10:00 AM - Break

10:15 AM - Benthic Monitoring: Overview, Methods, and Results — Bernardo Vargas-Ángel

10:45 AM - Benthic Projects to Support and Inform Management — Brett Schumacher

11:15 AM - Public Q&A

11:45 AM - Lunch

12:45 PM - Reef Fish Monitoring: Overview, Methods, and Results — Ivor Williams

1:15 PM - Using Ecosystem Monitoring Data for Ecosystem Science — Adel Heenan

1:45 PM - Pacific Islands Regional Office Coral Reef Management Needs — Gerry Davis

2:15 PM - Break

2:30 PM - Impacts of Warming and Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs — Thomas Oliver

3:15 PM - Coral Reef Science Future Directions — Rusty Brainard

3:45 PM - Public Q&A

4:00 PM - Panel Review and Discussion (closed session)

5:00 PM - Adjourn

Thursday, April 7, 2016

8:30 AM - Schedule for the Day – Terms of Reference Questions and Themes

Theme IV: Ecosystem Science Integration

8:45 AM - Ecosystem Models to Explore Insular Ecosystems — Mariska Weijeman

9:15 AM - Partnership for Ecosystem Management and Science — Ivor Williams

9:45 AM - Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management — Supin Wongbusarakum

10:15 AM - Break

10:30 AM - West Hawaiʻi Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) — Jamison Gove

11:15 AM - Science to Support Endangered Species Act (ESA) Corals Listing — Rusty Brainard

11:45 AM - Pacific Islands Regional Office ESA Corals Management Needs — Lance Smith

12:15 PM - ESA Corals Projects — Dione Swanson

12:45 PM - Public Q&A

1:15 PM - Week in Review and Closing Remarks — Michael Seki

1:30 PM - Panel Review and Discussion (closed session)

5:00 PM - Adjourn

Friday, April 8, 2016 at NOAA Inouye Regional Center (closed session)

8:00 AM - Panel Review and Discussion (closed session at IRC)

1:00 PM - Final Panel Reports to PIFSC Directorate (closed session at IRC)

TBD - Adjourn

Last updated by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center on 01/30/2025