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USGS/National Marine Fisheries Service Meeting on Southern California Bight Benthic Habitat
The Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) has funding in FY01 to expand interpretation and use of existing geologic and benthic mapping data in support of habitat research and management, partnering with NOAA and others. On November 13th, a meeting was held in La Jolla, CA, to initiate more communication, cooperation, and education between biological and geological researchers. CMGP scientists Guy Cochrane, Jane Reid, Pete Dartnell, and Peter Barnes met with NOAA's Southwest Region and Southwest Fisheries Science Center staff, California Department of Fish and Game habitat staff, and Southern California Coastal Water Research Project fisheries biologists. CMGP goals for the meeting were to learn about benthic biologic research in the Southern California Bight and how we can enhance our geologic studies and products to assist research and management of fisheries, benthic habitats, and ecosystems. Recommended habitat studies in the Southern California Bight (about the size of the Gulf of Maine) focused on mapping habitats of particular fish species that have been reduced to 1% or less of their pre-fishing abundance, including white abalone, cowcod, bocaccio, and lingcod. Studies of squid-spawning habitat and the distributions of juvenile and adult rock cod habitats were also recommended. The participants generally agreed that initial efforts should focus on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Such efforts in part may serve to support the proposed no-take marine reserves for the Sanctuary. Additional focus was urged for benthic habitats in Santa Monica Bay. We also initiated preliminary discussion regarding a NOAA/USGS-co-funded post-doctoral or graduate student who might help us communicate and link biology and geology at the benthic boundary.
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in this issue:
Lake Tahoe: "Wonders of the Universe" Calendar Plymouth County Detention Center
Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Southeatern U.S. Benthic Habitat Southern California Benthic Habitat 9th International Coral Reef Symposium Director's Office & NOAA Visitors  |
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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