Ecosystem approach to harvesting in the Arctic: walking the tightrope between exploitation and conservation in the Barents Sea

Michael R. Heath; Déborah Benkort; Andrew S. Brierley; Ute Daewel; Jack H. Laverick; Roland Proud; Douglas C. Speirs

doi:10.1007/s13280-021-01616-9

Ecosystem approach to harvesting in the Arctic: walking the tightrope between exploitation and conservation in the Barents Sea

Michael R. Heath, Déborah Benkort, Andrew S. Brierley, Ute Daewel, Jack H. Laverick, Roland Proud, Douglas C. Speirs

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Projecting the consequences of warming and sea-ice loss for Arctic marine food web and fisheries is challenging due to the intricate relationships between biology and ice. We used StrathE2EPolar, an end-to-end (microbes-to-megafauna) food web model incorporating ice-dependencies to simulate climate-fisheries interactions in the Barents Sea. The model was driven by output from the NEMO-MEDUSA earth system model, assuming RCP 8.5 atmospheric forcing. The Barents Sea was projected to be > 95% ice-free all year-round by the 2040s compared to > 50% in the 2010s, and approximately 2 °C warmer. Fisheries management reference points (F_MSYand B_MSY) for demersal fish (cod, haddock) were projected to increase by around 6%, indicating higher productivity. However, planktivorous fish (capelin, herring) reference points were projected to decrease by 15%, and upper trophic levels (birds, mammals) were strongly sensitive to planktivorous fish harvesting. The results indicate difficult trade-offs ahead, between harvesting and conservation of ecosystem structure and function.

Original language	English
Number of pages	15
Journal	Ambio
Volume	First Online
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01616-9
Publication status	Published - 3 Sept 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water

Keywords

Acoustic data
Chlorophyll
Climate change
Ecosystem model
Fishing
Food web

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Cite this

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title = "Ecosystem approach to harvesting in the Arctic: walking the tightrope between exploitation and conservation in the Barents Sea",

abstract = "Projecting the consequences of warming and sea-ice loss for Arctic marine food web and fisheries is challenging due to the intricate relationships between biology and ice. We used StrathE2EPolar, an end-to-end (microbes-to-megafauna) food web model incorporating ice-dependencies to simulate climate-fisheries interactions in the Barents Sea. The model was driven by output from the NEMO-MEDUSA earth system model, assuming RCP 8.5 atmospheric forcing. The Barents Sea was projected to be > 95\% ice-free all year-round by the 2040s compared to > 50\% in the 2010s, and approximately 2 °C warmer. Fisheries management reference points (FMSY and BMSY) for demersal fish (cod, haddock) were projected to increase by around 6\%, indicating higher productivity. However, planktivorous fish (capelin, herring) reference points were projected to decrease by 15\%, and upper trophic levels (birds, mammals) were strongly sensitive to planktivorous fish harvesting. The results indicate difficult trade-offs ahead, between harvesting and conservation of ecosystem structure and function.",

keywords = "Acoustic data, Chlorophyll, Climate change, Ecosystem model, Fishing, Food web",

author = "Heath, \{Michael R.\} and D{\'e}borah Benkort and Brierley, \{Andrew S.\} and Ute Daewel and Laverick, \{Jack H.\} and Roland Proud and Speirs, \{Douglas C.\}",

note = "Funidng: This study was supported by the Changing Arctic Ocean project MiMeMo (NE/R012679/1) jointly funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF/03F0801A). Brierley was also supported by ArcticPRIZE (NE/P005721/1).",

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AU - Heath, Michael R.

AU - Benkort, Déborah

AU - Brierley, Andrew S.

AU - Daewel, Ute

AU - Laverick, Jack H.

AU - Proud, Roland

AU - Speirs, Douglas C.

N1 - Funidng: This study was supported by the Changing Arctic Ocean project MiMeMo (NE/R012679/1) jointly funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF/03F0801A). Brierley was also supported by ArcticPRIZE (NE/P005721/1).

PY - 2021/9/3

Y1 - 2021/9/3

N2 - Projecting the consequences of warming and sea-ice loss for Arctic marine food web and fisheries is challenging due to the intricate relationships between biology and ice. We used StrathE2EPolar, an end-to-end (microbes-to-megafauna) food web model incorporating ice-dependencies to simulate climate-fisheries interactions in the Barents Sea. The model was driven by output from the NEMO-MEDUSA earth system model, assuming RCP 8.5 atmospheric forcing. The Barents Sea was projected to be > 95% ice-free all year-round by the 2040s compared to > 50% in the 2010s, and approximately 2 °C warmer. Fisheries management reference points (FMSY and BMSY) for demersal fish (cod, haddock) were projected to increase by around 6%, indicating higher productivity. However, planktivorous fish (capelin, herring) reference points were projected to decrease by 15%, and upper trophic levels (birds, mammals) were strongly sensitive to planktivorous fish harvesting. The results indicate difficult trade-offs ahead, between harvesting and conservation of ecosystem structure and function.

AB - Projecting the consequences of warming and sea-ice loss for Arctic marine food web and fisheries is challenging due to the intricate relationships between biology and ice. We used StrathE2EPolar, an end-to-end (microbes-to-megafauna) food web model incorporating ice-dependencies to simulate climate-fisheries interactions in the Barents Sea. The model was driven by output from the NEMO-MEDUSA earth system model, assuming RCP 8.5 atmospheric forcing. The Barents Sea was projected to be > 95% ice-free all year-round by the 2040s compared to > 50% in the 2010s, and approximately 2 °C warmer. Fisheries management reference points (FMSY and BMSY) for demersal fish (cod, haddock) were projected to increase by around 6%, indicating higher productivity. However, planktivorous fish (capelin, herring) reference points were projected to decrease by 15%, and upper trophic levels (birds, mammals) were strongly sensitive to planktivorous fish harvesting. The results indicate difficult trade-offs ahead, between harvesting and conservation of ecosystem structure and function.

KW - Acoustic data

KW - Chlorophyll

KW - Climate change

KW - Ecosystem model

KW - Fishing

KW - Food web

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85114177368

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DO - 10.1007/s13280-021-01616-9

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VL - First Online

JO - Ambio

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ER -

Ecosystem approach to harvesting in the Arctic: walking the tightrope between exploitation and conservation in the Barents Sea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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Other files and links

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Microbes to Megafauna Modelling: Microbes to Megafauna Modelling of Arctic Seas (MiMeMo)

Cite this

Ecosystem approach to harvesting in the Arctic: walking the tightrope between exploitation and conservation in the Barents Sea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Microbes to Megafauna Modelling: Microbes to Megafauna Modelling of Arctic Seas (MiMeMo)

Cite this