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 Related Knowledge (17)
 5 RELATED TOPICS:
 Ecosystem Approaches to Governance Ecosystem Approaches to Governance
 Ecosystem Approaches to Management Ecosystem Approaches to Management
 Gulf of Alaska LME Gulf of Alaska LME
 Gulf of California LME Gulf of California LME
 Pelagic Ecosystems Pelagic Ecosystems
 Topic Overview
 ID# : 80391
 Visits: 2805
 Added: 14-Apr-2005
 Updated: 03-Jun-2005
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 Editors
 Ned Cyr
 Jennifer Perce
 Frances B. Michaelis
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 KO Overview
 ID# : 26529
 Visits: 8399
 Added: 01-Jan-2000
 Updated: 27-Oct-2011
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 Owner
 

Frances B. Michaelis

 
 
 
 
California Current LME Maintained by NOAA  
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Introduction
 
The California Current LME is an example of a large pelagic ecosystem which has been studied by CalCOFI participants since 1949 .The North Pacific Current feeds into the Alaska Current and the California Current which moves south along the coastline of North America . It then flows far offshore in the Southern California Bight before touching the mainland again in Baja California, Mexico. This LME is adjacent to the Gulf of Alaska LME and the Gulf of California and the Pacific Central-American Coastal LMEs.
The main features of the California Current are:
  • Decadal variation as well as variation during El Niño and La Niña events. See more
  • High biological productivity (>250 mg C/sq m/day)
  • Characterized inshore by an extensive kelp ecosystem. Watch the video
  • Important Californian sardine fishery which collapsed in the 1940s and 50s and has now recovered
  • Ongoing fisheries for squid, groundfish, tuna and salmonids
  • Historic overharvesting of great whales may be partly responsible for changes to the ecosystem
  • Large populations of sea birds
  • Rapid urbanization in places has led to loss of habitat and discharge of pollutants
  • Marine protected areas have been established.
Fifty years of research on the California Current
Photo title: Fifty years of research on the California Current
Photo credit: CalCOFI
 
 
 
 
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Contact
Frances B. Michaelis
Photograph1029796579425_frances.jpg
DescriptionDr Frances B Michaelis, Editor, UN Atlas of the Oceans. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Consultant, support from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD and National Marine Fisheries Service, USA.
International Research Associate, Reef and Rainforest Research Centre
Keywords RESOURCE CONSERVATION; FISHERIES; SUSTAINABILITY
Geography Keywords PACIFIC OCEAN; AUSTRALIA; INDIAN OCEAN; SOUTHERN OCEAN
Organization FAO Fisheries
PositionEditor, UN Atlas of the Oceans and International Research Associate, RRRC
Address
PO Box 772
TOWNSVILLE   QLD
Australia   4810
Telephone61 7 4729 8490
Fax61 7 4729 8449
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