Mitigating Impacts of Natural Hazards on Fishery Ecosystems
<em>Abstract.</em>—Natural hazards are inevitable but unpredictable—both spatially and temporally. Because of their ubiquitous distribution in aquatic ecosystems, fish and their associated fisheries could potentially serve as important in situ bioindicators of natural hazard effects. Many fish attributes suit this purpose, including response variables at individual, species, and community levels of organization. Given that resources for investigations are often limited, some attributes are more efficient, effective, and biologically meaningful than others. To help establish research plans to investigate natural hazard effects, a matrix was created with regard to space, time, and variable response (i.e., biological attributes) potential. A series of additional criteria appropriate for investigation and based on biological attributes according to levels of organization such as species, stocks, populations, and communities is provided. More subjective criteria, such as the presence of historical databases that are species-specific, were included, as well as the economic and social value of the fishery as viewed by the public. Last, a national or international network of research facilities should be established that is both multijurisdictional and multidisciplinary to fully evaluate the spatial and temporal effects of natural hazards on fishery ecosystems. Integration of long-term fisheries- and species-response data will allow a full evaluation of fish responses to natural hazards as well as help set goals for mitigation and restoration efforts.