Technology for Evaluating Marine Ecosystems in the Early Twenty-First Century

Measuring, monitoring, and predicting oceanic and coastal conditions are widely acknowledged as essential activities in support of long-term ecosystem-based fishery management efforts. Efforts are underway to build new administrative and technical infrastructures to support collecting oceanographic data, assimilate it into models, and ensure its availability to the public, managers, and scientists in a timely fashion. In large part, however, the success of coastal and ocean observing systems will depend on what kinds of measurements are made and their relevance to the success or failure of recruitment in an exploited population. From an ecosystem perspective, habitat characterization, measurements of the abundance and distribution of a target species, its predators, competitors, and food resources should be made on scales similar to those experienced by individuals of the target species. The ultimate value of fixed observatories, mobile platforms, and state-of-the-art data distribution infrastructures critically depends on the availability and use of appropriate sensors. Sensor technology may be the weakest link in evolving plans for a transition to ecosystem-based management. Although the distribution of sensing capabilities for the various ocean parameters, and plant and animal populations that make up an ecosystem is uneven, a few promising sensor developments are highlighted, perceived roadblocks to developing new sensors are noted, and speculations are made on probable future developments in sensor technology for ecosystem assessment.