Researchers to study ocean health
Isabelle Côté, 778.782.3705; imcote@sfu.ca
Randall Peterman, 778.782.4683; randall_peterman@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.4323
The Royal Society of Canada has appointed 10 scientists – two of them from Simon Fraser University – to an independent panel charged with studying the health of Canada’s oceans.
SFU biology professor Isabelle Côté and Randall Peterman, a professor and Canada Research Chair in fisheries risk assessment and management, will be part of an independent panel that will focus on issues related to climate change, overfishing and marine biodiversity.
Côté is an internationally known marine scientist whose research focuses on tropical coastal ecosystems. She has pioneered the use of meta-analysis in marine conservation ecology – a technique for understanding the bigger picture by combining all available scientific data.
She used the method to discover an 80-per-cent decline in the coral cover of Caribbean reefs (as published in Science). In an earlier study of coral-reef fisheries she was among researchers who found that more than half of coral island fisheries were being exploited unsustainably.
"This initiative is a unique opportunity to focus Canadian attention on what is happening in our coastal waters," says Côté. "We have the longest ocean coastline in the world. Knowing how climate change is affecting marine populations and resources should therefore be essential for us."
Peterman, who co-chaired an earlier Royal Society panel (1996-98) related to oceans, hopes this new approach “will highlight for decision makers and the public the value of protecting our oceans.”
“The contributions of Canada’s oceans to the health and well-being of Canadians is under-appreciated,” says Peterman, noting that oceans face “enormous challenges from many sources, among them, climate change and the loss of marine biodiversity.”
Peterman is leading one of four working groups on the Synthesis of Climate Effects on Salmon. The scientists are organized through the U.S. National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis.
He is also among a trio of SFU scientists heading a five-year study on the Secondary Effects of Climate Change on Human Health and Ecosystem Health, funded by SFU’s Community Trust endowment fund.
The Royal Society panel’s report is expected in 2012.
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