Assessment of MSC-certified fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic

This study examines the status and exploitation level of 31 northern European stocks targeted by fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being sustainable and well managed. In the first year of certification, 11 stocks (52% of stocks with available data) were exploited above the maximum sustainable level and four stocks (16% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. MSC states that it certifies sub-standard stocks because they will improve once they are in their program. However, after a duration of certification of one to ten years (average four years), no significant changes in fishing pressure or stock size were detected. In the last certified year with available data, seven stocks (44% of stocks with available data) were subject to overfishing and five stocks (21% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. Certification should guarantee that fishing quotas are set correctly and are enforced. However, in 11 stocks quotas were set 20–60% above the level that fishers were taking, whereas in three stocks landings exceeded quotas by 30–50%. The study concludes that MSC should change its rules such that overfishing or unsafe stock sizes lead to immediate suspension of certification and that no certification is issued in the first place for a stock that is already in such a situation.     

北大西洋东北部不稳定的新仙女木气候

近10年来,新仙女木亚冰期的机制和气候意义引起了学者的广泛关注,格陵兰冰心计划(GRIP)在Summit钻探的冰心中已经确定出这个寒冷事件,并定义为格陵兰亚冰期1(GS1),年代为12650～115000cal．aBP。总的来说,GS-1是稳定的,它的寒冷阶段开始和结束地非常快(在几十年之内),这在整个北大西洋地区许多钻孔中都得到了证实。     

Material supply to the abyssal seafloor in the Northeast Atlantic

Downward particle flux was measured using sediment traps at various depths over the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (water depth 4850 m) for prolonged periods from 1989 to 1999. A strong seasonal pattern of flux was evident reaching a maximum in mid-summer. The composition of the material changed with depth, reflecting the processes of remineralisation and dissolution as the material sank through the water column. However, there was surprisingly little seasonal variation in its composition to reflect changes in the biology of the euphotic zone.Currents at the site have a strong tidal component with speeds almost always less than 15 cm/sec. In the deeper part of the water column they tend to be northerly in direction, when averaged over periods of several months.A model of upper ocean biogeochemistry forced by meteorology was run for the decade in order to provide an estimate of flux at 3000 m depth. Agreement with measured organic carbon flux is good, both in terms of the timings of the annual peaks and in the integrated annual flux. Interannual variations in the integrated flux are of similar magnitude for both the model output and sediment trap measurements, but there is no significant relationship between these two sets of estimates. No long-term trend in flux is evident, either from the model, or from the measurements.During two spring/summer periods, the marine snow concentration in the water column was assessed by time-lapse photography and showed a strong peak at the start of the downward pulse of material at 3000 m. This emphasises the importance of large particles during periods of maximum flux and at the start of flux peaks. Time lapse photographs of the seabed show a seasonal cycle of coverage of phytodetrital material, in agreement with the model output both in terms of timing and magnitude of coverage prior to 1996. However, after a change in the structure of the benthic community in 1996 no phytodetritus was evident on the seabed.The model output shows only a single peak in flux each year, whereas the measured data usually indicated a double peak. It is concluded that the observed double peak may be a reflection of lowered sediment trap efficiency when flux is very high and is dominated by large marine snow particles.Resuspension into the trap 100 m above the seabed, when compared to the primary flux at 3000 m depth (1800 mab) was lower during periods of high primary flux probably because of a reduction in the height of resuspension when the material is fresh. At 2 mab, the picture is more complex with resuspension being enhanced during the periods of higher flux in 1997, which is consistent with this hypothesis. However there was rather little relationship to flux at 3000 m in 1998.At 3000 m depth, the Flux Stability Index (FSI), which provides a measure of the constancy of the seasonal cycle of flux, exhibited an inverse relationship with flux, such that the highest flux of organic carbon was recorded during the year with the greatest seasonal variation.     

A Lagrangian biogeochemical study of an eddy in the Northeast Atlantic

We report the results of an experiment in the Northeast Atlantic in which sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) was released within an eddy and the behaviour of trace gases, nutrients and productivity followed within a Lagrangian framework over a period of 24 days. Measurements were also made in the air above the eddy in order to estimate air-sea exchange rates for some components. The physical, biological and biogeochemical properties of the eddy resemble those of other eddies studied in this area, suggesting that the results we report may be applicable beyond the specific eddy studied. During a period of low wind speed at the start of the experiment, we are able to quantitatively describe and balance the nutrient and carbon budgets for the eddy. We also report concentrations of various trace gases in the region which are similar to those observed in other studies and we estimate exchange rates for several trace gases. We show that the importance of gas exchange over other loss terms varies with time and also varies for the different gases. We show that the various trace gases considered (CO₂, dimethyl sulphide (DMS), N₂O, CH₄, non-methane-hydrocarbons, methyl bromide, methyl iodide and volatile selenium species) are all influenced by physical and biological processes, but the overall distribution and temporal variability of individual gases are different to one another. A storm disrupted the stratification in the eddy during the experiment, resulting in enhanced nutrient supply to surface waters, enhanced gas exchange rates and a change in plankton community, which we quantify, although overall productivity was little changed. Emphasis is placed on the regularity of storms in the temperate ocean and the importance of these stochastic processes in such systems.     

Atmospheric dust contribution to deep-sea particle fluxes in the subtropical Northeast Atlantic

The lithogenic flux of sediment trap material was analyzed from a three year time series (February 2002–March 2005) at 2000 m depth in the Northeast Atlantic (Kiel 276, 33°N, 22°W) with regards to the seasonal and interannual variability of flux intensity and mineralogy—by applying an automated particle SEM-EDX analysis (scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray analysis). The lithogenic flux shows strong interannual variations with highest lithogenic flux rates occurring during January–February and April–March coupled to the total particle flux. Mean lithogenic flux rates for the sample years are 7.1 (2002–2003), 5.1 (2003–2004) and 16.1 mg m^?2 d^?1 (2004–2005). Mineral assemblages from the three sample years reveal distinct major minerals related to specific source regions. Clay minerals dominate the lithogenic fraction within the years 2002 and 2004 with illite (2002–2003) and palygorskite (2003–2004) being the major clay minerals. During the year 2004–2005, quartz is the major lithogenic mineral accompanied by smectite. The mineral assemblages hint to a mixture of North African source areas with dominant sources in Mauritania and north western parts of NW Africa for the years 2002–2004 and central Sahara (Algeria–Mali) within the year 2004–2005.     

Evidence for the bioerosion of deep-water corals by echinoids in the Northeast Atlantic

In situ video observations of echinoids interacting with deep-sea coral are common in the deep-sea, but paradoxically the deep-sea literature is devoid of reports of bioerosion by extant echinoids. Here we present evidence of contemporary bioerosion of cold-water coral by four species of deep-sea echinoids, Gracilechinus elegans, Gracilechinus alexandri, Cidaris cidaris, and Araeosoma fenestratum, showing that they actively predate on the living framework of reef building corals, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, in the NE Atlantic. Echinoid specimens were collected in six canyons located in the Bay of Biscay, France and two canyons on the north side of the Porcupine Bank and Goban Spur, Ireland. A total of 44 live specimens from the four taxa (9 of G. elegans, 4 of G. alexandri, 21 of C. cidaris and 10 of A. fenestratum) showed recent ingestion of the coral infrastructure. Upon dissection, live coral skeleton was observed encased in a thick mucus layer within the gastrointestinal tract of G. elegans and G. alexandri while both live and dead coral fragments were found in C. cidaris and A. fenestratum. Echinoid bioerosion limits the growth of shallow-water reefs. Our observations suggest that echinoids may also play an important role in the ecology of deep-water coral reefs.     

Controls on the organic chemical composition of settling particles in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

The organic matter of sinking particulate material collected in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (ca. 49°N, 16°W) was investigated in order to determine temporal and depth-related variability in its composition. Three sediment traps were deployed at nominal depths of 1000 m (below the permanent thermocline), 3000 m (representing the deep-water fluxes) and at 4700 m, about 100 m above the seafloor (just above the benthic boundary layer). The samples span a 28-month sampling period from October 1995 until February 1998, each sample representing a period of between 7 and 28 days.Total organic carbon and total nitrogen contents decrease with depth, as did the absolute concentrations of most biochemicals measured in this study, such as intact proteins and individual lipids. However, concentrations of proteins relative to total organic carbon and total nitrogen did not show any significant change with depth, implying that they are not being rapidly degraded and so may provide an important supply of nitrogen to the benthos. Fluxes of protein, TN and TOC are significantly correlated at all depths.Lipid compositions vary temporally. During periods of high flux, particularly in the summer, the lipids are richer in ‘labile components’, namely unsaturated fatty acids and low molecular weight alcohols. During periods of low flux other compounds, such as sterols, steroidal ketones and a trisnorhopan-21-one are more abundant. One sample, taken close to the seafloor, was highly enriched in lipids, sterols and fatty acids in particular; this may represent detritus derived from bottom-dwelling invertebrates.     

Temporal variability in phytodetritus and megabenthic activity at the seabed in the deep Northeast Atlantic

We report a ten-year study of the abundance and activity of megabenthos on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, northeast Atlantic, together with observations on the occurrence of phytodetritus at the deep-sea floor (4850 m). Using the Southampton Oceanography Centre time-lapse camera system, ‘Bathysnap’, we have recorded a radical change in the abundance and activity of megabenthos between the two periods of study (1991–1994 and 1997–2000). In 1991–1994, the larger megabenthos occurred at an abundance of c. 71.6/ha and were dominated by large holothurians. In addition, there were very substantial populations of smaller megabenthic ophiuroids (c. 4979/ha). Together, the total megabenthos are estimated to track over some 17 cm²/m²/d (exploiting 100% of the surface of the seabed in c. 2.5 years). In 1997–2000, the larger megabenthos increased to an abundance of c. 204/ha and were joined by exceptional numbers of a small holothurian species (Amperima rosea, 6457/ha) and ophiuroids (principally Ophiocten hastatum, 53,539/ha). The total megabenthos population was tracking at an estimnated rate of c. 247 cm²/m²/d (exploiting 100% of seabed in just 6 weeks). Coincident with these increases in the abundance and activity of the megabenthos, there were apparently no mass depositions of aggregated phytodetritus to the seabed in the summers of 1997–1999. Mass occurrences of phytodetritus had been noted during the summer months of the three years previously studied (1991, 1993 and 1994), with covering between 50 and 96% of the sediment surface. There is a statistically significant (p<0.02) negative correlation between maximum extent of this seabed cover of phytodetritus and seabed tracking by megabenthos. Additional studies [Lampitt et al., Progr. Ocean. 50 (2001)], indicate that there were no substantial changes in surface ocean primary productivity, in export flux, or in the composition of the flux that might otherwise account for the apparent absence of observable concentrations of phytodetritus during the summers of 1997–1999. We postulate that the marked increase in megabenthic tracking activity resulted in the removal (via consumption, disaggregation, burial etc.) of the bulk of the incoming phytodetrital flux during these years. A simple conceptual model, based on the apparent phytodetrital fluxes observed in 1991 and 1993, suggests that the megabenthos tracking rates estimated for 1997–1999 are sufficient to account for near-total removal of this flux. However, we are not able to estimate other processes removing phytodetritus (i.e. other elements of the benthos) that may also have increased between 1991–1994 and 1997–1999. Other independent studies [e.g. Ginger et al., Progr. Ocean. 50 (2001)] of flux constituents support the possibility that just a few species of megabenthos (e.g. A. rosea, and O. hastatum) could well have consumed a major proportion of the incoming flux and so substantially modified the composition of the organic matter available to other components of the benthos.     

Emergence of multi-stakeholder-driven cooperative research in the Northwest Atlantic: The case of the Northeast Consortium

The past 50 years in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank is marked by a growing divide between fishermen, scientists, and managers. This paper tracks the scientific, regulatory, social and political evolution of fisheries management in the Northwest Atlantic, culminating in a distrustful and adversarial climate, a convergence of diverse policy needs, and the emergence of a multi-stakeholder cooperative research program—the Northeast Consortium. The institutional structure and activities of the Northeast Consortium are presented and we conclude with a discussion of the role of cooperative research in building mutual understanding and respect, trust and scientific legitimacy.     

Relation between sea surface temperature anomaly in the Atlantic and summer precipitation over the Northeast China

1 IwrRoDUcrIowln recen l00 years. mateorolQgi8ts have paid mu0h aneation to impact of ocean onlong-range weather process. Because fram view POillt of space and tAne scale condition,ocean is one of very important phySical factor for the evolotion of thespheric circulation.The scientific research cooperation grOup (l979) first found that SST in the equatorialeastern Pacific reversely correlates with summer tempendre aver Nowheast China. Pan etal (1981) discussed re1atfon between heating of…