Linking Coastal Watersheds to Fish & Fisheries

Felicia ColemanFlorida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory Photo by Richard Bickel

Gulf of Mexico Zonation

38 % Coastal 22 % Shelf (< 200m)20 % Slope*(200 - 3000m) 20% Deep Sea (>3000 m)

ProductivityEGoM > WGoM

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

*most complex on earthFrom: Gulfbase, www.gulfbase.org

Circulation - The Loop Current

From: The Sustainable Seas

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Nutrient Input - freshwater discharge

Links terrestrial & marine ecosystems

Groundwater , springs

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Felicia Coleman

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Chlorophyll plumes from •Mississippi River

•Apalachicola River

Nutrient Input - freshwater discharge

Nutrient Input

Mississippi - BAD Apalachicola - GOOD

The Dead Zone The Green River Phenomenon

same season, same time as peak spawning for:

•Gag•Red Grouper

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Habitat Linkages

From: Heck et al. 2008Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Habitat Linkages – life cycle

From: Heppell et al. 2006Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Fishing Sites

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s Habitat Linkages – fisheries

Felicia ColemanLink

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Felicia Coleman

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

-100-80-60-40-20

020406080

100

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

March Anomalies

% D

epar

ture

fro

m A

vera

ge

Chl a

APA discharge

Felicia Coleman

Chlorophyll based on March SeaWiFS ocean color satellite data(from Dr. Steve Morey et al., FSU COAPS)

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s

Summary• The benefits of river flow extend far beyond the

boundaries of the bay

• That river flow delivers nutrients offshore that support a highly productive fisheries

• Those fisheries deliver billions of dollars to coastal communities and those industries that depend upon them

Link

ing

Coas

tal W

ater

shed

s to

Fis

herie

s