Fisheries

Abstract

Satellite data characterize oceanic properties of habitat and ecosystems that influence living marine resources at spatial and temporal resolutions that are impossible to achieve any other way. The high spatial resolution provides an important geographical context for interpreting other data. The daily-to-weekly temporal resolution allows for effective monitoring of many oceanic features and permits the extraction of value-added products such as the timing of seasonal events. For fisheries applications it is crucial that climate quality records of ocean color be maintained so that existing satellite records will be able to serve as a benchmark against which to gauge future changes and to track historical variations. These time series of science-quality satellite data are needed to understand linkages between climate and ecosystems, and to characterize and monitor ecosystems as part of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.