Data wish list for an analysis of the tradeoffs between fishing and VME Protection

Canada fishes for sablefish in its national waters and a small part of the NPFC Convention Area in the northeast Pacific Ocean. We present the first steps of a Canadian case study that illustrates how spatial modeling coupled with trade-off analysis could maintain socio-economic benefits of the sablefish fishery while promoting the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Spatial fisheries and VME data are key to establishing the linkages that would serve to both inform management and protect sensitive benthic ecosystems. Therefore, we compiled sablefish landings data and developed species distribution models for six VME indicator taxa, including soft corals (order Alcyonacea), stony corals (order Scleractinia), black corals (order Antipatharia), sea pens (order Pennatalucea), glass sponges (class Hexactinellida), and demosponges (class Demospongiae). We are currently in the process of assessing trade-offs between fishing and VME protection using Marxan, a decision support tool for conservation planning. Information that would improve our analyses include more accurate fisheries landings data, improved identification of VME taxa, improved species distribution models and their predictions, and defined management objectives. Information that quantifies fishing impacts on VME taxa would also be useful. Our approach strives to balance protection of VME taxa with socio-economic interests associated with fisheries management within Canada’s EEZ and in the NPFC Convention Area.