Abstract
While the open oceans are well covered by automated ocean measurement instruments, there is a lack of sub-surface oceanographic observation in coastal and shelf seas. Commercial fishing gear such as bottom trawls, pots, traps and long lines can act as a platform for sensors, which collect physical oceanographic data concurrently with normal fishing operations. The lack of observed in-situ ocean data in coastal and shelf seas limits operational oceanography, weather forecasting, maritime industries, and climate change monitoring. In addition, using fishing gear as an ocean observation platform has auxiliary benefits for fisheries management including stakeholder involvement. This study quantifies and compares the existing sub-surface in-situ data coverage with the spatial distribution of fishing activities. The results show that integration with fishing could contribute to filling some of the most pressing gaps in existing ocean observation systems in coastal and shelf seas. There are limitations inherent to opportunistic data collection, mainly related to spatial and temporal heterogeneity of fishing activities. However, we make the case that fishery-based observations have the potential to complement existing ocean observing systems in areas where oceanographic data are lacking and needed most in order to ensure long term sustainability of oceanographic monitoring.
Highlights
Despite the well documented importance of understanding the physical processes occurring in the ocean, there is a lack of in situ subsurface data to calibrate and constrain ocean models and forecasts in coastal and shelf seas
research vessels (R/Vs) are an indispensable cornerstone for ocean observations due to their unparalleled data collection capabilities and flexibility, enabling the widest range of simultaneously measured parameters (Schmidt et al, 2019)
EXpendable BathyThermographs (XBTs) are a one-time use temperature recording unit that can be deployed from a range of vessel types, after which they are discarded to the sea floor
Summary
Despite the well documented importance of understanding the physical processes occurring in the ocean, there is a lack of in situ subsurface data to calibrate and constrain ocean models and forecasts in coastal and shelf seas. R/Vs are an indispensable cornerstone for ocean observations due to their unparalleled data collection capabilities and flexibility, enabling the widest range of simultaneously measured parameters (Schmidt et al, 2019). A variety of technologies and platforms are being employed for sustained monitoring ocean physics at spatial and temporal scales that would not be possible with R/Vs. EXpendable BathyThermographs (XBTs) are a one-time use temperature recording unit that can be deployed from a range of vessel types, after which they are discarded to the sea floor. The successful deployment of the large scale Argo program, combined with operational ranges of Argo floats, means that there are more physical subsurface observations of the open ocean than in coastal and shelf sea regions (Killick et al, 2019). Addressing the gaps in in situ ocean data coverage due to the operational limitations of Argo floats is identified as a key priority by recent reviews of ocean observation systems (March et al, 2019; She et al, 2019; Tanhua et al, 2019)
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