Global Assessment of River Fish Production and Potential Global Change Implications
Dates
Start Date
2015-08-01
End Date
2017-12-31
Release Date
2015
Summary
Better understanding of the overall fishery production in river systems around the world may influence general development policies and practices for aquatic systems and sustainable maintenance of an important protein source (particularly for poorer countries where fish are relatively readily available to the local human population). With this study, researchers worked to fill this knowledge gap by estimating the overall fishery production in river networks globally using multivariate statistical models with explanatory variables compiled from remotely sensed and in‐situ observations. The freshwater fish production in rivers was estimated by: 1. Developing models using key drivers (temperature, precipitation, land use variables etc.) [...]
Summary
Better understanding of the overall fishery production in river systems around the world may influence general development policies and practices for aquatic systems and sustainable maintenance of an important protein source (particularly for poorer countries where fish are relatively readily available to the local human population). With this study, researchers worked to fill this knowledge gap by estimating the overall fishery production in river networks globally using multivariate statistical models with explanatory variables compiled from remotely sensed and in‐situ observations.
The freshwater fish production in rivers was estimated by:
1. Developing models using key drivers (temperature, precipitation, land use variables etc.) that impact fish production and validating these models using existing harvest data from river fisheries.
2. Predicting the response of river fish production to global change (climate and land use) using the present day river fish production model as a baseline and using downscaled climate scenarios. We focused on global inland river systems which complements another project focusing on estimation of fishery production from the lakes (Bunnell et al. 2014, Deines et al. 2014).
Fisheries data from global rivers are currently not collected in a standardized format. By developing a standardized database and then a transferable global production model we will be able to remotely estimate drivers of fish productivity and compare them with in‐situ data collected from regions with current field assessment programs. With the improved understanding of the river fishery production estimates, policy makers and managers also have better information to formulate their annual harvesting policies to keep their fisheries stock within maximum sustainable limits.
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Fisherman on the Mekong River, Lao PDR (Abby Lynch).JPG “Fisherman on the Mekong River, Lao PDR - Credit: Abby Lynch”
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Matanuska River, Alaska (Abby Lynch) 2112x1584.jpg “Matanuska River, Alaska - Credit: Abby Lynch”
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Artisanal Fishing in Lao PDR (Abby Lynch) 3000x2250.jpg “Artisanal Fishing in Lao PDR - Credit: Abby Lynch”
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Manistee River, Michigan (Abby Lynch) 1500x1125.jpg “Manistee River, Michigan - Credit: Abby Lynch”
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ne_10m_rivers_lake_centerlines.README.html
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ne_10m_rivers_lake_centerlines.VERSION.txt
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Purpose
To identify novel ways to estimate river fish production on a global scale; develop data-limited production models for river fisheries using non-traditional approaches, project fish production estimates with climate change; and manage a global river fisheries database.
Project Extension
parts
type
Objectives
value
1. Identify appropriate river size for global analysis (analysis of river system(s) from small (Catchment <1000 km2) to large (Catchment >10000 km2) to determine fishery production spatially.
<br>2. Determine the drivers influence river fish production.
<br>3. Estimate global river fish biomass.
<br>4. Project how global river fish production (e.g., overall biomass) is impacted by changing climate and land use (projection model from production model using IPCC future climate scenario).
projectProducts
productDescription
1. RiverCat database.
<br>2. Compilation of global inland waters environmental layers.
<br>3. River fish production model and global change projection incorporating environmental data layers.
<br>4. Scientific publications.