PACOOS: Providing ocean information for the sustained use of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem under a changing climate
An immediate need exists to measure the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems and to forecast the effects of climate fluctuations on the benefits, products and services we derive from them. A sustained Integrated Ocean Observing System(IOOS), benefiting all sectors of society that use or are influenced by the ocean, is the central requirement for this capability. Planning for an IOOS is underway in the U.S., with benefits ranging from improved security, public health and safety, to improving the sustained use of marine resources, and protecting species and ecosystems.
As part of this nationwide effort, NOAA, academic partners, foundations, state fisheries agencies, and other organizations are developing an integrated Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System, (PaCOOS) for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. The system shall provide the information needed for management of fishery resources, protected marine mammals, marine birds, and turtles, and to forecast the ecosystem consequences of fisheries removals, environmental variability and climate change. It is the ecosystem observing backbone of IOOS for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. The geographic focus is the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington with international links to the portion of the California Current Ecosystem occurring in Canadian and Mexican waters. PaCOOS is administered by a Board of Governors and two coordinators. PaCOOS is admnistered by a Board of Governors and staffed by a program manager and coordinator.
NOAA Ship Activities in PaCOOS Region
Related links:
HISTORY
In 2002, scientists from west coast academic institutions, foundations and agencies participated in an Alliance for California Current Ecosystem Observation (ACCEO), a series of community meetings held in Monterey California, Seattle Washington, and Portland Oregon. The goal was to determine how best to develop a practical backbone of physical and biological marine-observation that would support management of natural resources and assessment of the effects of climate variability on California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
In 2003 the ACCEO concept was broadened, renamed, and selected as the NOAA west coast contribution to the national Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The new name was Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System (PaCOOS). The goal of PaCOOS is to provide the ocean information needed for the sustained use of fishery resources and protection of marine species and their ecosystem under a changing climate. This plan is based on the results of first planning meeting held in July 2003 in La Jolla and a science planning meeting held in Seattle in September 2003.
Since 2004, the Board of Governors has met regularly, PaCOOS agenda & meeting summary can be found under the meetings tab.
CHARTER
August 9, 2004: PaCOOS Memorandum of Understanding, or PaCOOS charter, was revised based on recommendations from the Interim Governing Board during their May 17-18, 2004 Board meeting, and subsequent email correspondence among Board members.
SCIENCE PLAN
March 29, 2005: PaCOOS Board of Governors. 2004. Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System (PaCOOS) science plan. SWFSC Admin Rep. LJ-04-06c (revised), 50p. (1.3 MB)
December 15, 2004: PaCOOS Board of Governors. 2004. Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System (PaCOOS) science plan. SWFSC Admin Rep. LJ-04-06b (revised), 50p. (1.3 MB)
October 30, 2004: PaCOOS Board of Governors. 2004. Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System (PaCOOS) science plan. SWFSC Admin Rep. LJ-04-06, 49p. (1.2 MB)
PaCOOS QUARTERLY UPDATE OF CLIMATIC AND ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE CA CURRENT LME
If you have any questions please contact the PaCOOS Coordinator Rosa Runcie
