Climate Variability and Fisheries Workshop: Setting Science Priorities for the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Regions

Meeting Location

Location: Sirata Beach Resort (5300 Gulf Blvd, St Petersburg, FL 33706)
Date: October 26-28, 2015

Hotel Information

Hotel: Sirata Beach Resort
Address: 5300 Gulf Blvd, St Petersburg, FL 33706
Phone Number: (727) 897-5200

Parking at the Sirata Beach Resort is free for workshop participants.

Internet Login: SECOORA
Internet Password: sirata2015

Click to access the travel memo.

Workshop Background

The goal of the workshop is to advance our understanding of impacts of climate variability on fisheries resources and management in the large marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, and to promote multidisciplinary partnerships.  

Breakout sessions are planned to identify research priorities and common needs across regions and disciplines.  The workshop participants will produce a report on the state-of-the-science regarding climate variability and its potential impact on fisheries resources and management, and priority research and monitoring/observing needs. The meeting report will be used to inform the NMFS Fisheries Climate Science Strategy Regional Action Plan.

By invitation only, a group of experts from fishery management councils, federal and state fisheries and climate entities, academia and private industry (including scientists and fishing industries representatives, and non-governmental organizations) are attending the workshop to help identify research and monitoring needs.

Workshop Objectives

  • Share the state-of-the-science and examples of apparent climate change and its potential impact on fisheries resources (including protected resources such as marine mammals, turtles, and corals) in each region.
  • Discuss how climate variability may impact fish distribution, catch, socioeconomics, and management.
  • Identify and prioritize research and monitoring needs related to climate variability and fisheries for each region.
  • Consider needs common to all regions, and discuss strategies for applied, collaborative research across geographies and disciplines.
  • Learn from others working on the links between fisheries and climate in other regions.
  • Identify opportunities for addressing priority needs

Workshop Products

  • Report on the state-of-the-science regarding climate change and its potential impact on fisheries resources and management across the regions.
  • Report on priority research and monitoring needs across the regions.

Agenda (click here is access PDF)

Monday October 26

1:00 – 1:45pm

 
Welcome, Overview of Meeting Objectives, and Introductions

1:45 – 2:45pm

Opening Plenary:
How Is Changing Climate Impacting Fisheries of the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Regions?
What are the Science Needs to Inform Management?

2:45 – 3:00pm

Break

3:00 – 3:40pm        

 
South Atlantic Panel

3:40 – 4:20pm

 
Gulf of Mexico Panel 

4:20 – 4:35pm

Break

4:35 – 5:15pm

 
Caribbean Sea Panel 

5:15 – 5:40pm

Group Discussion: Similarities and Differences Across Regions, and Management Implications of Potential Climate Change Impacts

5:40 – 5:45pm

Wrap Up Day 1, Preview Day 2

6:00pm

Social Event

Tuesday October 27

8:30 – 8:40am

Welcome and Review of Agenda Day 2 | PDF of Presentation
 

8:40 – 9:30am            

Other Perspectives

9:30 – 9:40am

Break

9:40 – 10:45am

Breakout Groups: Research and Monitoring/Observing Needs to Track, Understand and Project Climate-related Changes in Fish Populations
 

10:45 – 11:00am

Break

11:00 – 12:15pm

Breakout Groups: Research and Monitoring/Observing Needs to Track, Understand and Project Climate-related Changes  in the Fisheries

12:15 – 1:15pm

Lunch

1:15 – 2:25pm

Breakout Groups: Other Information and Decision-Support Needs to Support Climate-Informed Fisheries Management

2:25 – 2:45pm

Breakout Groups: Reflecting on Overall Priorities

2:45 – 3:00pm

Break

3:00 – 3:30pm

Report Out

3:30 – 4:55pm

Breakout Groups by Region

4:55 – 5:00pm

Wrap Up Day 2, Preview Day 3
 

Wednesday October 28

8:30 – 8:40am

Review of Agenda Day 3

8:40 – 9:45am

Breakout Groups by Region (continued)

9:45 – 10:15am

Report Out from Regional Breakouts

10:15 – 10:30am

Break

10:30 – 11:30am

 
Panel of Program Managers

11:30 – 12:20pm

Large Group Discussion: Next Steps

12:20 – 12:30pm

Wrap Up and Adjourn

Workshop Materials.

 

Meeting Sponsors

NOAA Fisheries
NOAA National Ocean Service Office for Coastal Management
SECOORA
GCOOS
CaRACOOS