Climate & Marine Ecosystems

ST led climate and marine ecosystem activities increase the availability and use of information pertaining to climate impacts on living marine resources and the communities that depend on them. This project has seven goals to help meet these requirements. These goals are: implementing the Distributed Biological Observatory in the Pacific Arctic; completing a Synthesis of Arctic Research; completing an Arctic Report Card; launching a NOAA climate and marine resources initiative; developing tools and approaches for assessing fisheries vulnerability in a changing climate; monitoring and assessing impacts of climate change and variability on Bering Sea/Arctic living marine resources; and building tools and capacity to prepare for and respond to impacts of climate change on living marine resources and the communities that depend on them. Each goal is designed to advance a specific capability related to climate change and marine ecosystems. Together they form a framework designed to help achieve ?Climate Ready? status in all of NMFS mission areas (fisheries management, protected species conservation, habitat conservation). The projects are focused on providing information, tools and services nation-wide and regionally, with special focus on three regions (Arctic, California Current, and North Atlantic). Led by ST staff, the projects involve multiple partners and leverage resources from multiple sources.