Oceans & Climate Branch (OCB)

The Oceans and Climate Branch analyzes data collected on the Northeast Continental Shelf ecosystem to understand how the components of the ecosystem influence the distribution, abundance, and productivity of living marine resources (LMRs). Shelf-wide shipboard surveys are conducted throughout the year on seasonal variations in plankton, water column temperature and salinity, and ocean chemistry. The observations contribute to a comprehensive climate-quality database that indexes changes in ecosystem conditions on seasonal decadal timescales. These surveys are also used as a platform for process-oriented research to better understand the interactions between oceanography and population dynamics. Research is conducted in an Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management approach and aimed at developing understanding, tools and databases for addressing climate, ecosystem and habitat issues in stock assessments; gauging ocean acidification; developing advanced technologies for ecosystem monitoring; and estimating the impact of a changing climate on fisheries, aquaculture and protected species. Branch expertise includes but is not limited to physical oceanography, fisheries biology and plankton ecology.

The Oceans & Climate group analyzes data collected on the Northeast Continental Shelf ecosystem to understand how the components of the ecosystem influence the distribution, abundance, and productivity of living marine resources.