The Future of Maritime Jurisdiction

Clesi Bennett, MIIS

 

Abstract: International law depends on the environmental and geographic stability of the Holocene geological epoch. This stability, however, is threatened by the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly maritime jurisdiction, is greatly dependent on this stability and certainty. Sea level rise will cause baselines and other maritime boundaries to ambulate landward under UNCLOS. This will have catastrophic repercussions. Small island developing nations, who contribute the least to sea level rise, will bear the brunt of these repercussions as their survival and statehood may become threatened. The implications of allowing baselines to migrate landward reach far beyond ocean governance, questioning human rights, refugee law, access to resources, cultural heritage, and international peace and stability. I conducted a policy analysis on the options to address sea level rises’ effect on maritime boundaries. These options included: letting present trends continue, building artificial structures to preserve current baselines, freezing of states’ baselines to preserve maritime boundaries, freezing states’ outer maritime limits, and a combination of freezing baselines and outer maritime limits depending on states’ interests. In my policy analysis, I screened these options through relevant criteria, including: equity (inter and intra generational), political feasibility, financial feasibility, based on best available science, conformity with UNCLOS provisions, conformity with UNCLOS goals and aims, and conformity with international law principles. Based on this list of criteria, I found the best option is to preserve current maritime jurisdictions by freezing some, all, or a combination of maritime boundaries based on states’ interests. Although this does not conform with specific provisions in UNCLOS, it best alleviates the adverse impacts of sea level rise on the most vulnerable states. In terms of implementation, there is a possibility of the formation of a customary international law from the unilateral action currently being taken by Pacific small islands developing nations declaring their maritime boundaries. The United Nations Open-Ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea would be the best avenue for crystallizing a customary international law that may develop.
 

Bio: Clesi Bennett is a Master of Arts candidate in the International Environmental Policy program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) where she is concentrating in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. She is the MARINE campus liaison for MIIS.

 

 

Groundwater chemistry: why should you care?

Kimberley Bitterwolf, UCSC

 

Abstract: To accurately develop a box model in any discipline, the inputs and outputs should be well-constrained. In chemical oceanography, a previously discounted input is making headlines: groundwater discharge. Whether you are a coastal biologist, a nearshore ocean modeler, a policy maker, or a paleo-climatologist - groundwater inputs matter for your work. However, published research thus far is very regional in scope and the development of a 'global value' is desperately needed. This is the niche that my research aims to fill.

 

Bio: Website.

 

 

Why barns are red: the much bigger picture

Kyle H. Broach, UCSC

 

Abstract: Why are barns red? A particular challenge for scientists is communicating the big picture of their research for a very wide and diversely knowledgeable audience. The technical language of science poses part of the problem, but often a lack of exposure to a topic inhibits familiar points of reference to which the audience can relate and understand the big idea. My own foraminiferal research is a prime example. What does a foram even look like? Why do we care about its biochemistry? How could that forecast water resources? These questions are related in the same non-obvious way that barns are red because of stars. This talk will use familiar and relatable imagery to explain biogeochemistry concepts to engage an audience’s interest in, and appreciation for, the seeming minutia of specialized marine research and its important impacts on society.

 

Bio: Kyle Broach is a fourth year PhD candidate studying the frequency of droughts in lowland tropics. He is interested in climate impacts on water resources and climate-induced changes in seasonal precipitation. Website.

 

 

The Process of Patterning, Using Key Evolutionary Groups to Understand Conserved Processes in Development and Regeneration

Paul Bump, Stanford (Hopkins)

 

Abstract: From early metazoans, to more complex bilaterians and a sister chordate deuterostome group, we hypothesize there may be a set of conserved processes that govern tissue patterning. The wide diversity found in marine invertebrates allows us to examine these phenomena across a wide stretch of evolutionary time and to tease apart what processes are conserved versus novel. A particular area of interest we are currently focused on is the process of patterning before, during, and after cell turnover. We seek to better understand this turnover that, while key in healthy maintenance of any multicellular organism, may also be occurring in development and regeneration.

 

Bio: Website.    @paul_bump

 

 

The effects of ocean acidification on local adaptation in a keystone intertidal predator, Nucella emarginata

Xochitl Clare, UCSC

 

Abstract: Climate change induced environmental stress can affect animal behavior. This is important for top predators that have top-down control over their community. One form of climate change, ocean acidification (OA), causes alterations in chemoreception, including predatory cue responses. These effects may induce evolutionary changes in populations at local scales. This study investigates local adaptation to OA in the drilling sea snail, Nucella emarginata, foraging on its prey, the California mussel. Predation on mussels by snails from three sites was observed under low and ambient pH for 60 days. Mussel size was used to determine how snail drilling differs in each treatment. Results from this experiment will quantify behavioral variation at each site which could imply local adaptation to OA. Since human induced environmental change can create selective pressures on organisms, it is urgent that we begin to understand how this could alter community structure.

 

 

Does it have to be extinction? The future of the Pacific bluefin tuna

Siobhan Gibbons, MIIS

 

Abstract: This study investigates the factors leading to species extinction and compares the plight of the Pacific bluefin tuna to various case studies. Three case studies – the collapse and slow recovery of the Atlantic Cod, the extinction of the Caribbean Monk Seal, and the varying degrees of success in Gray Whale conservation – are analyzed for insights into what makes some species more vulnerable to extinction than others. I predicted that current trends among management practices, cultural values, and external threats to the Pacific bluefin tuna, as well as their life history patterns, would put them at a high vulnerability for extinction. The case studies suggest that life histories and management practices play an important role in species recovery, but more importantly, the cultural values surrounding a species can determine its vulnerability to extinction. Overfishing must be curbed before Pacific bluefin tuna population collapse to ensure their best chance at being able to overcome other threats such as habitat loss due to environmental factors, pollution, and resource depletion. If current cultural ideals continue, Pacific bluefin tuna could become victims of extinction as a direct result of human activity.

Bio: My interest in interactions between science and culture was sparked during my undergraduate in Anthropology and Biological Science. This led me to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer working with local fishers in the Philippines. Today I focus on policy and practice related to fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

Tropical seabird foraging ecology plays a complex role in exposure to contaminants

Morgan Gilmour, UCSC

 

Abstract: Organochlorine (OC) and mercury contaminants are ubiquitous in today’s environment. Atmospheric and riverine deposition play key roles in contaminant distribution in the ocean and marine foodwebs. Top predators like seabirds bioaccumulate contaminants from their diet, increasing their risk to contaminants’ adverse effects. I investigated contaminants in four booby species (Sula spp.) and two frigatebird species (Fregata spp.) in the Caribbean, Gulf of California, and Central Pacific Ocean, and asked how foraging behaviors (obtained via GPS tracking tags) could affect contaminant exposure. The distribution of OCs and mercury differed among species, but was generally negatively correlated with latitude. However, seabird foraging behaviors were generally similar within oceanographic regions. The combination of varying contaminant results and similarities in foraging indicates that complex processes shape the distribution of marine contaminants, to which seabirds are unevenly exposed.

Bio: I have worked with avian ecology projects around the world since 2003. I am fascinated by movement ecology, and how birds often traverse international boundaries. Additionally, I witnessed environmental challenges while working in remote, developing, and industrialized regions. These experiences led to my PhD research: seabirds’ foraging ecology and ecotoxicology. Website. @MorganEGilmour

 

 

Direct and Remote Effects of Topography on Mesoscale Eddies

Larry Gulliver, NPS

 

Abstract: This study is focused on the equilibration of baroclinic instability which commonly develops in large-scale stratified oceanic flows, resulting in an active field of mesoscale eddies: large pockets of ocean which have different thermal, directional and density characteristics than the surrounding ocean water. In particular, we investigate how the transport characteristics of these instability- driven mesoscale flows are effected by (i) variation in topography, (ii) the orientation of the large-scale current, and (iii) structure of the basic velocity. In order to accomplish this, we simulate a zonal flow in a large-scale ocean basin using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm). We then compare the lateral transport of these simulations with our analytic model, which is based on balancing the growth rate of the baroclinic instability derived from linear theory with that of a numerically derived secondary instability.
Additionally, two flow regimes are considered; the first is a “remote” scenario in which the current is spatially separated from the ocean floor and therefore any effects of topography on the flow are fundamentally eddy-induced. The second case is a “direct” one in which the current is in direct contact with the ocean bottom resulting in heightened sensitivity of the flow to these same topographic variations.
 

 

Surf Zone Texture

Ami Hansen, NPS

 

Abstract: The ocean surface (geometric) roughness represents the lower boundary layer for air as it moves across the water. The surface roughness influences the wind drag and resulting wind velocity profile. In the open ocean, the surface roughness scales from small wind-induced ripples to larger scale, and includes the foam from white-capping. Here the focus is on the surface roughness that develops within the active wave breaking surf zone. As the waves decrease in height, foam is generated inducing a relatively rough surface. Measuring the surface of foam is challenging, because the fluid represents both air and water in various size bubbles, which prevent the use of acoustics, optical laser backscatter, and pressure. Owing to this, stereo-imagery techniques will be applied to images obtained from dual-camera system to generate three-dimensional (3D) images of the surfzone surface. The camera system will be housed in a waterproof enclosure and deployed on jetted pole within the surfzone. The vertical perturbations from the 3D imagery will provide geometric roughness.

 

 

Development of a low-cost device to quantify and assess flow patterns of Rippled Scour Depressions in Monterey Bay, CA

Clifton Herrmann, CSUMB

 

Abstract: Financial limitations often dictate the quality and extent of research in marine physical and biological science. Given the rapid advances in technological resources, low-cost solutions to scientific barriers have become increasingly feasible. I’m developing a low-cost open-source device to examine small-scale hydrodynamic flow in and around submarine sand dunes, also known as Rippled Scour Depressions (RSDs). These submarine geological structures have been the focus of study due to their striking deviation from surrounding soft-bottom plains, yet little is known about their biophysical implications. The device utilizes an Inertial Measurement Unit, housed within a positively buoyant pipe, to log absolute orientation data at 2Hz when anchored. Flow data will be paired with remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys to characterize the physical and biological environment of RSD habitats in the Monterey Bay, CA.

Bio: Clifton is an interdisciplinary marine ecologist, driven by a passion for the natural world. His professional goals include the development and implementation of modern technologies to address resource management or science-related issues. Website.

 

 

Why is the Southern Ocean such a great carbon sink?

Hannah Joy-Warren, Stanford
 

Abstract: The Southern Ocean acts as a sink for anywhere from 15 to 40% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. That’s huge! But what makes the Southern Ocean so special? The answer lies in the combination of biological productivity, cold water temperatures, seasonal ice cover, and bottom water formation.

 

 

Deep Seabed Mining in the South Pacific: Challenges & Opportunities

Karl Larsen, MIIS
 

Abstract: Regulatory agencies have had to address a myriad of different marine pollution issues connected to mining activities over the past few decades. Regulations concerning mining activities and the marine environment have so far mainly concentrated on the dumping of mining tails in the ocean or in rivers, as well as prohibited or severely restricted shallow seabed mining. Deep seabed mining, on the other hand, has not been considered an important marine pollution issue by regulatory agencies until relatively recently. With the emergence of interest in deep seabed mining and the vast quantities of high quality ore at depths under 1,000 meters, policymakers within multinational organizations and national governments have the unique opportunity to proactively manage marine pollution from mineral extraction rather than reactively deal with the impacts. With the approval of the first ever deep seabed mine to start operations in Papua New Guinea in 2018, the South Pacific region will soon become a testing ground for marine pollution management policies for deep seabed mining.

 

Bio: Karl Larsen is a Joint MBA / MA in International Environmental Policy candidate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), and will finish his program in December 2018. Karl received his BA in Economics at the University of Rochester in 2015 prior to studying at MIIS. 

 

​

Material Transport Across the Surf Zone Boundary of Southern Monterey Bay

Aaron Morrone, NPS

 

Abstract: It is important to understand the mechanisms responsible for cross-shore exchange between the inner shelf and the surf zone for explaining the transport of nutrients, pollution, and biota. Transient and stationary rip currents have been found to effectively transport and mix material across the inner shelf, surf zone boundary. Here, the contribution of additional mechanisms, such as internal waves, diurnal sea breeze, and subtidal processes, that develop on longer temporal and larger spatial scales are evaluated. Using water temperature as an inexpensive water mass tracer, co-located measurements of currents and temperature over the vertical were obtained along the outer edge of the surf zone for 2.5 months in southern Monterey Bay, CA to measure the heat flux across this boundary.

 

 

An emerging concern: Do California Mussels at Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf contain high levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins?

Dana Shultz, UCSC
 

Abstract: Toxic algal blooms of the dinoflagellate Dinophysis spp. are an emerging public health concern in the United States. Dinophysis produces okadaic acid and dinophysis toxins, collectively known as Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins. Shellfish concentrate these toxins in their tissues, which can cause food-poisoning like symptoms in consumers. The first clinical report of DSP symptoms in the U.S. was documented in Washington in 2011 when three people fell ill after consuming recreationally harvested mussels. Toxigenic species of Dinophysis are regularly found in Monterey Bay, California, but DSP toxins are not routinely monitored. In our study (2013-2016), okadaic acid and two dinophysis toxins were detected in California mussel (Mytilus spp.) tissue, with toxin concentrations above the FDA action level of 160 ng/g in 19 samples. These findings demonstrate that DSP toxins can be found in high levels in Monterey Bay and monitoring for this toxin should be considered.

 

 

Governing change in fishery systems: how does social-ecological context influence the ability to achieve sustainability goals?

Kendra Travaille, Stanford (Hopkins)

 

Abstract: Improving the sustainability of fisheries is crucial for meeting food security and nutrition needs, as well as achieving global conservation goals. Fishery improvement projects (FIPs) utilize market-based incentives to tackle unsustainable fishing practices and are being promoted by NGOs around the world; however, very little is known about their effectiveness in governing changes in different fishery settings. Using a global dataset of FIPs (n = 69) and information from case studies, my research examines the FIP process undertaken in different fisheries in order to understand how outcomes have varied across fishery settings. Results show that FIPs are diverse and their effectiveness varies depending on the type of species included, the fishery country’s economic status, and the number and type of issues identified in the fishery. These results highlight the importance of considering fisheries at whole-of-system scale when selecting, planning and implementing improvement activities in order to increase project effectiveness and success.

Bio: I am an integrated human-environment geographer with a background in marine ecology and social science. My research interests include the role of market-based approaches for improving fisheries sustainability, governing fisheries as complex social-ecological systems, and expanding the use of social methods for fisheries management and science. Website.

 

 

A Climate Vulnerability Assessment for California Current System Fisheries

Ellen Willis-Norton, UCSC

 

Abstract: Climate change is predicted to have a major effect on fisheries recruitment and abundance worldwide. In the California Current System (CCS) there is an urgent need to assess the potential impact of climate change on fisheries. Quantitative approaches developed to examine climate change impacts on marine fish cannot be applied simultaneously to a large number of species because of a lack of scientific infrastructure and data for some species. We conducted a semi-quantitative climate vulnerability assessment (CVA) that rapidly ranked 65 commercially important CCS species’ vulnerability to climate change. The assessment combined species’ exposure and sensitivity to a stressor to estimate overall vulnerability. Quantitative data was used when available, but expert opinion and qualitative information was used when data was lacking. Our results show that the climate change impacts on CCS species are expected to be overwhelmingly neutral or negative, with few positive impacts. The results from this CVA can be used to develop adaptive management strategies, determine current research gaps, and identify species or habitats that need protection.