Pelagic Predators, Prey and Processes (P4): A Multi-species Approach to the Conservation of Offshore Organisms and Habitats in the California Current System

Abstract

Pelagic Predators, Prey and Processes” (P4) is an inter-disciplinary initiative developed to address the conservation of marine top predators along the West Coast of North America. P4 integrates research and policy components lead by PRBO Conservation Science (formerly Point Reyes Bird Observatory), Duke University Marine Laboratory and Canadian Wildlife Service, in conjunction with numerous partners that include funding and resource management agencies, academia, and researchers. Herein, we provide an overview of the P4 conservation initiative background, objectives, and initial products. We include a brief summary of data collected on collaborative research cruises and preliminary analyses of seabird, cetacean, and marine turtle ocean habitat selection. Data reveal that continental shelfbreak and slope areas in the California Current System (CCS) support rich and diverse top predator assemblages. Moreover, results suggest that bathymetry may be useful in selecting appropriate marine habitats for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) 1 designation to protect highly mobile marine vertebrates. We also summarize the highlights from a workshop held in January 2002 to explore the “scientific basis for offshore / pelagic marine reserves” 2 and report on the resulting establishment of the “Pelagic Working Group” (PWG). The PWG concluded that persistent ocean productivity patterns and pelagic species distributions could be readily identified in the 1 Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a broad term referring to a site that has been afforded some level of protection (e.g. limiting oil and gas exploration) to preserve biological, geophysical or cultural resources (U.S. Executive Order 13158). However, the majority of MPAs allow recreational and commercial fishing. 2 Marine Reserves (MRVs) are specifically designed to protect biological resources by excluding extractive activities such as fishing, and in some cases, deleterious recreational activities. CCS. In principle, MPAs could be used to protect some of these offshore species and habitats from certain anthropogenic impacts.