ICES 2000 Annual Science Conference
27–30 September 2000
88th Statutory Meeting, 24 September to 4 October 2000
Brugge (Bruges) Belgium

ICES Homepage

Mini-Symposium and Theme Sessions

Theme Categories

Marine Habitats

Living Resources

Fisheries Resource Management

Fisheries Technology and Surveying

Mariculture

Oceanography and Marine Ecology

 

Marine Habitats

Mini-Symposium on Defining the Role of ICES in Supporting Biodiversity Conservation

Dr J. Rice, CSAS – DFO, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa ONT K1A 0E6, Canada;
e-mail: ricej@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Dr M. Tasker, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Dunnet House, 7 Thistle Place, Aberdeen AB10 1UZ, United Kingdom; e-mail: mltasker@aol.com or tasker_m@jncc.gov.uk

The Mini-Symposium will include both invited and contributed papers on both what ICES can contribute to knowledge on and conservation of biodiversity, and what conservation biology means in ICES activities. Topics to be addressed will include:

  • Genetic, species, habitat and marine seascape conservation;

  • Addressing biodiversity in ICES advisory tasks;

  • Taxonomy and systematics;

  • Survey and monitoring;

  • Effects of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning;

  • Management objectives for biodiversity;

  • What does biodiversity mean to partner Commissions

Session code: Mini

 

Theme Session on Temporal and Spatial Trends in the Distribution of Contaminants and their Biological Effects in the ICES Area

Dr Remi W.P.M. Laane, National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ, P.O. Box 20907, 2500 EX The Hague, The Netherlands; e-mail: laane@rikz.rws.minvenw.nl
Dr P. Matthiessen, CEFAS, Remembrance Avenue, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8HA, United Kingdom; e-mail: p.matthiessen@cefas.co.uk
Dr T. Lang, Bundesforschungsanstalt für Fischerei, Institut für Fischereiökologie, Deichstrasse 12, 27472 Cuxhaven, Germany; e-mail: t.lang@t-online.de

A variety of studies have been conducted in the ICES area on spatial and temporal aspects of the distribution of marine contaminants and, to a considerably lesser extent, on their biological effects. However, there is still a need to understand cause-effect relationships more fully through field studies that simultaneously investigate contaminants and their biological impacts.

Papers are therefore invited which evaluate the current state of knowledge on the links between contaminants and their effects in the ICES area. This information will be important as a basis for the design of future monitoring programmes

Session code: S

 

Theme Session on Classification and Mapping of Marine Habitats

Dr D. de Jong, RIKZ, P.O. Box 207, 9550 Haren (GN), The Netherlands; e-mail: dejong@rikz.rws.minvenw.nl
Dr Jon Side, ICIT, Heriot-Watt University, Civil & Offshore Engineering, Old Academy, Back Road, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AW, United Kingdom; e-mail: ioejcs@icit.civ.hw.ac.uk
Dr Rebecca Allee, NOAA/DUS/PCO, 14th and Constitution, N.W., Room 5811, Washington D.C., 20230, USA; e-mail: becky.allee@noaa.gov

Habitat classification and mapping is a prerequisite for the assessment of the health status of marine ecosystems, their management and protection. The Theme Session will review and summarise the results of habitat classification and mapping projects already ongoing in the ICES area, link ICES activities with ongoing OSPAR work on the EUNIS classification system, and identify how work on classification can be advanced within ICES.

Session code: T

 

Theme Session on Marine Biological Invasions: Retrospectives for the 20th Century: Prospectives
for the 21st Century

Prof. J. Carlton, Maritime Studies Program, Williams College – Mystic Seaport, P.O. Box 6000, Mystic Seaport, CT 06355-0990, USA; e-mail: james.t.carlton@williams.edu
Dr S.D. Utting, CEFAS Weymouth Laboratory, The Nothe, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 9UB, UK; e-mail: s.d.utting@cefas.co.uk

The Theme Session will focus on the ecological, environmental, and economic impacts (pro and con) of exotic species invasions in marine ecosystems, including dispersal vectors such as ballast water, the use of non-native species in aquaculture/mariculture systems, the mechanical and biological control of invasive species.

Session code: U

 

Living Marine Resources

Theme Session on Trophic Dynamics of Top Predators: Foraging Strategies and Requirements, and Consumption Models

Prof. H. Gislason, University of Copenhagen, c/o Danish Institute for Fishery Research, Charlottenlund Slot, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark; e-mail: hg@dfu.min.dk
K.T. Nilssen, Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, P.O. Box 2511, 9005 Tromsø, Norway;
e-mail: kjell-tormod.nilsen@fiskforsk.norut.no
Dr M. Tasker, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Dunnet House, 7 Thistle Place, Aberdeen AB10 1UZ,United Kingdom; e-mail: mltasker@aol.com or tasker_m@jncc.gov.uk

A strategy for the gradual implementation of an ecosystem approach to the management of fish stocks is currently being investigated. This requires an understanding of the trophic dynamics of important top predators. Trophic interactions have been shown to influence biological reference points as well as medium and long term predictions of exploited fish stocks. An improved understanding of the links between food availability, diet composition and food intake is necessary if we want to predict how both natural fluctuations and anthropogenic impacts will affect the structure and functioning of all marine ecosystems. Important issues include:

  • the diet, energy requirements, and total consumption of predators;

  • the seasonal, annual and spatial variation in abundance and distribution of predators compared with their prey;

  • prey selectivity, and responses to changes in prey abundance.

Session code: Q


Theme Session on the Application of Experimental Laboratory Studies to Fisheries Science

Dr J. S. Christiansen, University of Tromsø, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; e-mail: joergenc@nfh.uit.no
Prof. J. G. Pope, NRC (Europe) Ltd., The Old Rectory, Burgh, St. Peter, Norfolk NR34 0BR, United Kingdom; e-mail: popejg@aol.com

Current models of fisheries are complex and therefore require considerable amounts of data. Some must come from field studies, but there is also an increased potential for important data to be developed from experimental biology. During the last two decades or so aquaculture research, in particular, has generated a variety of new laboratory techniques which could also be applied to long-term studies of captive wild fish and other aquatic organisms important for fisheries assessments. Controllable laboratory experiments can thus provide robust and complementary data to field studies concerning the causality and potential of processes such as survival, growth, and reproduction of aquatic organisms subjected to a given environment. Hence, this Theme Session is intended to encourage the exchange of ideas and closer collaboration between scientists in the field of experimental aquatic biology and those in predictive fisheries biology. The former indicating what is now possible and the latter explaining what information is most needed.

Papers in the following areas would be welcome:

  • Identification of key information gaps in fisheries models.

  • Descriptions of new techniques in experimental biology which are likely to yield useful information for inclusion in models: e.g. larval and adult growth, feeding, and mortality.

  • Exploration of how to combine field and laboratory results in models in the most effective manner. Papers on this topic might use case studies, comparing field data and data obtained from laboratory experiments, and/or suggest field methods which can/should be verified in the laboratory (reference experiments).

Session code: R

Theme Session on Downturn in North Atlantic Salmon Abundance

Dr J. A. Ritter, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada; e-mail: ritterja@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
A. Isaksson, Directorate of Freshwater Fisheries, Vagnhofda 7, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland; e-mail: arni@veidimalastjori.is

Atlantic salmon stocks on both sides of the ocean have been in decline for the past three decades.

According to the ICES Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon the numbers of salmon in both Europe and North America have declined by 50% or more over this time period. This decline has been most severe for the runs of two-sea winter salmon to North America, where the prefishery abundance has dropped off to less than 100,000 fish from about 700,000 salmon in the 1970s. A similar trend has been observed for multi-sea-winter stocks in Europe, particularly in the southern areas. Furthermore, some salmon populations have been lost on both sides of the North Atlantic and several others are on the verge of becoming extirpated. Pollution and freshwater habitat degradation have clearly been affecting salmon populations in many areas, but there are indications that changes in the marine ecosystem are also playing a major role.

This Theme Session will focus on describing the downturn in salmon abundance on both sides of the North Atlantic, the science that would enhance our understanding of the decline, including its cause(s), and the prospects for reversal. Furthermore, it will address any exceptional corrective measures either ongoing or being considered to manage salmon populations during the current decline and for reversing the current trend.

Session code: Y

 

Fisheries Resource Management

Theme Session on Medium-Term Forecasts in Decision-Making

Dr K. Patterson, FRS Marine Laboratory, P.O. Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom;
e-mail: k.patterson@marlab.ac.uk
P. Sandberg, Directorate of Fisheries, Department of Fishery Economics, P.O. Box 185 Sentrum, 5804 Norway;
e-mail: per.sandberg@fiskeridir.dep.telemax.no

The Resource Management Committee should provide a bridge between fisheries and environmental issues, and between science and management. In line with this mandate, the Committee proposes a Theme Session which should focus on the following:

  • Improvement of medium-term forecasts of spawning stocks, yields and the risk of compromising limit/precautionary reference points

At the 11th ICES Dialogue Meeting in January 1999, participants from a wide range of management authorities and the scientific community discussed the Precautionary Approach, the Form and Nature of the Advice, and Confidence Building. In order to develop strategies within the Precautionary Approach, the production of medium-term projections of spawning stock, yield, and the risk of compromising limit reference points were seen as important.

However, taking account of the current uncertainty in both stock assessments and forecasts, the value of producing forecasts of fish stocks and their

corresponding yield have been questioned. The proposed Theme Session seeks to address both the usefulness of the medium-term forecasts to the decision-makers, as well as the scientific challenge to produce such forecasts.

In line with this we invite contributions which deal with the relevance of medium-term forecasts in a management context, as well as contributions dealing with the influence of environmental factors for projections of recruitment, growth, maturity, and natural mortality.

Contributions dealing with sources and types of uncertainty attached to the forecasts and methods that can be applied in order to reduce such uncertainty, will also be welcome.

RMC has proposed a Methods Working Group that in its first meeting will focus on method problems in medium-term projection, including adopting appropriate computer software. There is an EU concerted action on modelling that includes discussion of methods for medium term projection. It is therefore expected that a significant amount of scientific effort is already or will be directed on these issues in the near future resulting in a good presentation of the problems at the proposed Theme Session.

Session code: V

 

Theme Session on Cooperative Research with the Fishing Industry: Lessons Learned

Dr G. Chouinard, Head, Marine Fish Section, Gulf Fisheries Centre, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, NB E1C 9B6, Canada; e-mail: chouinardg@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Dr Paul Rago, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS/NOAA, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; e-mail: paul.rago@noaa.gov

In recent years there have been a number of cooperative research initiatives between fisheries scientists, managers, and the commercial fishing industry. As research budgets become more limited, and information needs expand, and as the fishing industry and environmental community seek a greater voice in the scientific debate, these collaborations will increase. It is timely that the scientific community review what has been learned from recent collaborations by examining case studies from both inside and outside the ICES area. In addition, associated issues such as the use of very different types of information in resource evaluations, standardization and consistency in methods, data quality and credibility, and the utility of cooperative research in improving the understanding of the role of science for fisheries management will be considered.

Session code: W
 

Theme Session on Fisheries Managers and Scientists on the Development of Reference Points and Management Systems for the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem

Dr J. Horwood, CEFAS, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, United Kingdom; e-mail: l.m.a.sivyer@cefas.co.uk Dr N.A. Nielsen, Danish Institute for Fishery Research, Jægersborgvej 64–66, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark; e-mail: nan@dfu.min.dk
Dr G. van Balsfoort, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, Postbus 20401, 2500 Ex Gravenhage, Netherlands; e-mail: g.j.van.balsfoort@viss.agro.nl
Dr M. Sissenwine, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS/NOAA, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; e-mail: michael.sissenwine@noaa.gov

The 11th Dialogue Meeting between ICES fisheries scientists, fisheries managers, and Client Commissions stimulated a positive and interactive dialogue. Issues arising from the meeting are likely to be reviewed at a further meeting early in 2000.

The precautionary approach to fisheries and ecosystem management is even now involving an increasing technical interaction between fisheries managers and scientists as they mutually seek to identify reference points and ecological issues.

It is appropriate that the scientific issues themselves continue to be addressed, but even more that the fishery managers be brought into the technical debate so that both parties move forward in an informed and constructive manner in this emerging field.

As well as from scientists, ICES is particularly seeking contributions from fisheries and environment managers on the practical ways forward in addressing these new issues, and the constraints that scientists should take into account when they attempt to develop reference points and management systems, and when they give advice in those contexts.

Session code: X

 

Fisheries Technology and Surveying

Theme Session on Efficiency, Selectivity and Impacts of Passive Fishing Gears

H. A. Carr, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 50A Portside Drive, Pocasset MA 02559, USA;
e-mail: arne.carr@state.ma.us
G. Brothers, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s, Nfld. A1C 5X1, Canada; e-mail: brothersg@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Passive gears (set nets, lines, and traps) are widely used to harvest a range of species, but their operation has been less intensively studied than that of active gears. Many passive gear fisheries are large enough to have a significant impact on stocks and require management and control. Although they can operate selectively on target species, there is scope for improvement. New methods of analysing catch data to investigate efficiency and selectivity are being developed and have advanced the understanding of the operation of these gears. There is concern about by-catches of unwanted species of fish and mammals in passive gear, and especially about ghost fishing by lost gear. Recent studies have clarified the problem by long-term observation of gears in the sea. As the marginal cost of passive gear is relatively low, fishing effort can expand rapidly in over-exploited fisheries to maintain catches, and experience of regulating these fisheries is of general interest.

Session code: J

  

Theme Session on Incorporation of External Factors in Marine Resource Surveys

 

E. J. Simmonds, FRS Marine Laboratory, P.O. Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom; e-mail: simmondsej@marlab.ac.uk
Dr P. Petitgas, IFREMER, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Halieutique, B.P. 21105, 44311 Nantes Cedex 03, France; e-mail pierre.petitgas@ifremer.fr
Dr S. Walsh, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, P.O. Box 5667, St John’s, Nfld. A1C 5X1, Canada; e-mail: walsh@athena.nwafc.nf.ca

Many external factors have various degrees of impact on marine resource surveys and can be summarised into three broad categories:

  • Fish behaviour: aggregation and distribution; vessel avoidance; reaction to gear,

  • Environment: weather: water movements; sea temperature; visibility; light, and

  • Sampling gear characteristics: tow duration; towing speed; gear size; ground contact; mesh sizes.

Most of these factors are not addressed in the design and conduct of surveys, nor are they incorporated in the analysis of results. There is a need to address such issues to improve both the quality of surveys and the analyses of data. Ideally the collection of survey data should be optimised according to the variables available and the analysis methods that will be applied.

The aim of the Theme Session is to provide a forum for discussion of methods and presentation of results that take into account the multivariate nature of survey data and/or combine variability sampled at different space-time scales. Papers investigating multivariate relationships, developing survey models and survey designs, and incorporating multivariate data in analyses and stock assessment will all be considered for the Session.

Session code: K

 

Mariculture

Theme Session on Sustainable Aquaculture Development

Prof. H. Ackefors, Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10619 Stockholm, Sweden; e-mail: hans.ackefors@zoologi.su.se
Prof. H. Rosenthal, Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany: e.mail: ifm@ifm.uni-kiel.de

The objective of this Theme Session is to demonstrate how aquaculture is dealing with the other users of the coastal zone by reducing its impact. Genetic and technological improvements both contribute to maintain high-scale aquaculture development. Extensive aquaculture can also contribute to the development, as well as shellfish cultivation for restocking.

Particular interest will be focused on the following subjects:

  • Reduction in benthic impacts,

  • Monitoring of aquaculture effects,

  • Genetic improvement (triploids, growth rate..) and environmental effects,

  • Extensive aquaculture processes,

  • Interaction between aquaculture, fisheries, and environment ,

  • Integrated coastal zone management planning for aquaculture development.

Session code: O

  

Theme Session on New Trends in Fish Feeding in Aquaculture

J. Castell, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, P.O. Box 550, Halifax, NS B3J 257, Canada; e-mail: castellj@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Dr S.J. Kaushik, Fish Nutrition Lab., Unité Mixte INFRA-INFREMER, Station d'Hydrobiologie, INRA, 64310 Saint Pée-sur-Nivelle, France; e-mail: kaushik@st-pee.inra.fr

Since the large contamination problems (cow disease, dioxin) which occurred in European countries, aquaculture is facing a new challenge, i.e. the production of high standard quality fish food to take care of the human health.

From an ecological point of view, the development of proteins change by vegetable products and is a major evolution for better use of the fisheries resources and for optimisation of the food chain transfers. Less pollutant fish diets to minimise environmental impacts have been developed by decreasing their nutrient components, by increasing their digestibility, and by increasing buoying and cohesion of the pellets.

Presentations on the following subjects are invited:

  • State-of-the art in ICES Member Countries of the use of animal meals in fish diets,

  • Replacement of animal proteins by vegetable sources,

  • Production of fish diets more digestible and less polluting,

  • Contamination of lipids diets function in different areas of production of fish meals (heavy metal, PCB, dioxin).

Session code: P

 

Oceanography and Marine Ecology

Theme Session on North Atlantic Processes

Dr W.R. Turrell, FRS Marine Laboratory, P.O. Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, United Kingdom; e-mail: turrellb@marlab.ac.uk
Prof. T. Rossby, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston R.I. 02881, USA: e-mail: trossby@gso.uri.edu

There is a diverse and exciting range of observational and modelling studies presently focused on understanding physical processes in the North Atlantic. With the conclusion of the WOCE period, the results of such process studies are now being directed at understanding the cause of long-term variability in the North Atlantic and its influence on regional and global climate. At the same time long term hydrographic monitoring performed by ICES members is reaching a century in length in several areas of the North Atlantic system. The aim of this Theme Session is to bring together workers from all academic, research, and fishery communities to communicate new concepts in North Atlantic processes and variability, and how these concepts may be used to improve the monitoring and understanding of long term change in the next century. Young scientists are particularly encouraged to contribute to the Theme Session

Session code: L

 

Theme Session on Environment – Plankton – Fish Linkages

Dr K. Drinkwater, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada;
e-mail: drinkwaterk@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
P. Wiebe, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1138, USA; e-mail: pwiebe@whoi.edu
Prof. K. Tande, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway;
e-mail: kurtt@nfh.uit.no
Dr J. Runge, Institut Maurice Lamontagne, CP 1000 Mont Joli, PQ, G5H 3Z4 Canada; e-mail:
RungeJ@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The objective of this Theme Session is to promote understanding of: (1) the linkages between climate changes and plankton variability and (2) the relative importance of zooplankton fluctuations in controlling changes in fish abundance and production.

Interannual and decadal scale variability in phytoplankton and zooplankton has been the subject of considerable research in recent years within ICES participatory programs such as GLOBEC and TASC. These programs have revealed that much of the zooplankton variability occurs in response to changes in ocean climate. Similar connections have been found from analysis of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) data. The first objective of this Theme Session is thus to examine the relationships between climate changes and plankton, with particular emphasis upon establishing the relative importance of climate changes in controlling the large-scale plankton variability, the spatial and temporal scales of the dominant variability, and determination of the underlying mechanisms.

Equally important is to make full use of this information from the fisheries perspective. Therefore, the second objective of the Theme Session is to establish quantitative links between zooplankton, marine resources, and fish. This includes dietary information, such as the main zooplankton species eaten, the relationship between larval condition and survival, and evidence for physical-induced changes in diet.

Results from observational studies, statistical analysis, and modelling are sought. Conclusions from the Theme Session could provide input to the planned monitoring of plankton being proposed under GOOS.

Session code: M

 

Theme Session on Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Recruitment Processes

Prof. E. Houde, University of Maryland, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688-0038, USA; e-mail: ehoude@cbl.cees.edu
Dr P. Pepin, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, P.O. Box 5667, St John’s, Nfdl. A1C 5X1, Canada; e-mail: pepin@athena.nwafc.nf.ca
P. Munk, Danish Institute for Fishery Research, Charlottenlund Slot, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark;
e-mail pm@dfu.min.dk
Prof. D. Schnack, Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Düstern-brooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany; e-mail: dschnack@ifm.uni-kiel.de

The processes leading to recruitment of fish and shellfish show temporal and spatial variability. Hydrography, trophic relationships, and reduced stock abundance due to fishing all act and interact to determine recruitment abundances, distributions, and trends therein, in space and time. Our understanding of these processes is limited, but critical to evaluate the dynamics of stocks and their management. The Theme Session will seek contributions to address issues of patterns, trends, and scale in recruitment with respect to hydrography, predator-prey and stock abundance, as well as other climatic and environmental factors. The Theme Session will also address the relationships between settlement, recruitment and habitat suitability, as well as the development of new methodological approaches to the study of spatial temporal variability (e.g. remote sensing, spatial statistics, data visualisation methods).

Session code: N