The coastal ocean is experiencing large biogeochemical changes, such as changes in carbon cycling, hypoxia and coastal acidification, under human pressure and climate change. Studying these changes and mitigating their impacts demands significantly improved coverage of biogeochemical (BGC) observation in the coastal ocean. However, existing observing networks fall short largely due to prohibitive high costs of implementation and maintenance. Fishery-based observation can effectively fill in observational gaps, achieve cost-effective measurements and deliver actionable data at relevant spatiotemporal resolutions to illuminate coastal dynamics. Its capability has been demonstrated by past and ongoing fishery observing programs focusing mostly on deployment of physical (temperature and salinity) sensors on fishing vessels and gear. Collection of data also enhances interactions between the science and fishing communities leading to important insights into changes in ocean conditions. Recent advances in low-cost, robust BGC sensing technologies have the potential to enable fishery-based BGC observation. A recent scoping workshop supported by the US Ocean Carbon Biogeochemistry (OCB) has made an important step towards establishing a fishery-based BGC observing network in the US coastal regions. The aim is to collaborate with the commercial fishing community to start to deploy low-cost, robust in situ BGC sensors along with physical sensors on fishing vessels and gear in the US Northeast region, fully scalable to other US regions and internationally. This presentation will discuss the major findings from the workshop, including technical, managerial, and societal achievements that makes it ready for launching such a BGC network. We also seek international collaboration to establish a global fishery-based observing network.

Primary Presenter: Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (zawang@whoi.edu)

Authors:

Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (zawang@whoi.edu)

Jennie Rheuban, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (jrheuban@whoi.edu)

Glen Gawarkiewicz, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (ggawarkiewicz@whoi.edu)

George Maynard, NOAA Northeast Fishery Science Center  (george.maynard@noaa.gov)

James Manning, NOAA Northeast Fishery Science Center  (james.patrick.manning@gmail.com)

David Bethoney, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation  (dbethoney@cfrfoundation.org)

Aubrey Ellertson, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance  (aubrey@capecodfishermen.org)

Cooper Van Vranken, Ocean Data Network, Inc.  (cooper@oceandata.net)

Erin Pelletier, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation  (erin@gomlf.org)

Huanxin Xu, Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation  (xhx509@gmail.com)

Heather Benway, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (hbenway@whoi.edu)

Mai Maheigan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (mmaheigan@whoi.edu)