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Coastal Fisheries Show Surprising Resilience to Marine Heat Waves

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers-led research found that marine heat waves – prolonged periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures – haven’t had a lasting effect on the fish communities that feed most of the world.

The finding is in stark contrast to the devastating effects seen on other marine ecosystems cataloged by scientists after similar periods of warming, including widespread coral bleaching and harmful algal blooms.

“There is an emerging sense that the oceans do have some resilience, and while they are changing in response to climate change, we don’t see evidence that marine heat waves are wiping out fisheries,” said Alexa Fredston, the lead author of the study who conducted the research as a postdoctoral associate in the Global Change Research Group, part of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources in the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS.)

The study, published in Nature, assessed effects on commercially important fish such as flounder, pollock and rockfish based on data extracted from long-running scientific trawl surveys – conducted by towing a net along the seafloor – of continental shelf ecosystems in North America and Europe between 1993 and 2019. The analysis included 248 marine heat waves with extreme sea bottom temperatures during this period. The researchers were surprised to find that marine heat waves in general don’t show major adverse effects on regional fish communities.

Although declines in biomass did occur after some marine heat waves, the researchers said these cases were the exception, not the rule. Overall, they found that the effects of marine heat waves aren’t distinguishable from the natural variability in these ecosystems.

“The oceans are highly variable, and fish populations vary quite a lot,” said Fredston, now an assistant professor of ocean sciences at University of California, Santa Cruz. “Marine heat waves can drive local change, but there have been hundreds of marine heat waves with no lasting impacts.”

In addition to assessing the impact on the total quantity of organisms in a given area, known as biomass, the researchers examined whether marine heat waves were causing changes in the variety of fish species composing fish communities. For example, evidence might show the loss of species associated with cold water and an increase in species associated with warm water, a phenomenon known as tropicalization.

The findings suggest fish may be able to find safe havens by moving to areas with cooler water during marine heat waves, which the researchers defined as periods of more than five days with extreme sea bottom temperatures for that region and season.

The data included some notable examples of marine heat waves that did have profound impacts, such as the 2014-2016 marine heat wave in the Northeast Pacific known as “the Blob,” one of the largest on record.

While “the Blob” led to a 22 percent loss of biomass in the Gulf of Alaska, a 2012 marine heat wave in the Northwest Atlantic led to a 70 percent biomass gain. The authors also noted that these weren’t large changes compared to natural variability in biomass, and similar effects weren’t seen after most other marine heat waves.

“We found that these negative impacts are unpredictable and that other heat waves had no strong impacts,” said Malin Pinsky, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and director of the Global Change Research Group at SEBS and a co-author of the study. “This means that each heat wave that hits is like rolling the dice: Will it be a bad one or not? We don’t know until it happens.”

Other Rutgers researchers who participated in the study include Zoë Kitchel, a doctoral student, and Aurore Maureaud, a postdoctoral associate, both with the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at SEBS.

Researchers from other institutions participated in the study, including the University of British Columbia, the University of Bern in Switzerland, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, the University of Montpellier in France, the University of Tromsø in Norway and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

–Rutgers University

Japan’s PM Visits Fish Market, Vows to Help Fisheries Hit by China Ban

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TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sampled seafood and talked to workers at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market Thursday to assess the impact of China’s ban on Japanese seafood in reaction to the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi plant to the sea.

The release of the treated wastewater began last week and is expected to continue for decades. Japanese fishing groups and neighboring countries opposed it, and China immediately banned all imports of Japanese seafood in response.

One of the seafood business operators told Kishida that sales of his scallops, which are largely exported to China, have dropped 90% since the treated water discharge.

“We will compile support measures that stand by the fisheries operators,” Kishida told reporters after the market visit. “We will also resolutely call on China to scrap its trade restrictions that has no scientific bases.”

China had stepped up testing on Japanese fisheries products, causing long delays at customs, even before the water release and its ban. Japanese Fisheries Agency officials said the measure has affected prices and sales of seafood not from Fukushima but from as far away as Hokkaido.

Government officials have called for Japanese consumers to eat more scallops to help support hard-hit exporters, while finding new export destinations in Europe and the United States.

All seawater and fish sampling data since the release have been way below set safety limits for radioactivity, officials and the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings say.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Wednesday hinted at an option of taking the case to the World Trade Organization. He said Japan has raised past issues concerning China’s trade restrictions without scientific basis, and that “Japan will consider various options while continuing to work within the WTO framework to decide necessary steps.” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi stressed the importance of dialogue.

The impact of China’s ban on Japanese seafood has spilled over to tourism. Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito has said cancellations of Chinese group tourists and inquiries about food safety in Japan have been on the rise and that officials are assessing the situation.

Officials and reports say thousands of crank calls from China have targeted Fukushima government offices and the nuclear plant’s operator, as well as the Foreign Ministry. Many of the callers shouted in Chinese, and some yelled “stupid” and used swear words.

Ill feelings have been growing in Japan, too.

In Tokyo, a sign at a Japanese-style bar warning “the Chinese” that it’s only serving food from Fukushima caught the attention of a Chinese V-tuber, who called police complaining of discrimination. The owner changed the sign but refused to talk.

The radioactive wastewater has accumulated since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that wrecked the plant and caused meltdowns in three of its reactors. The 1.34 million tons of water is stored in about 1,000 tanks and continues to accumulate because of leaks and the use of cooling water.

The government and TEPCO say discharging the water into the sea is unavoidable because the tanks will reach capacity early next year and space at the plant will be needed for the decommissioning work that is expected to take decades.

Find more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

–By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

Aquatic Vegetation & Fisheries Pond Management Program

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ROUND ROCK, Texas — The Aquatic Vegetation & Fisheries Pond Management 5 CEU Program will take place Saturday, September 9th at the Lakeview Pavilion, Old Settlers Park, Round Rock.

This RARELY OFFERED Multi-County Pondside event will focus on:

  • AQUATIC VEGETATION IDENTIFICATION
  • IPM WEED MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES,
  • FISHERIES STOCKING STRATEGIES
  • MAINTAINING POND HEALTH
  • LAWS AND REGULATIONS INVOLVED FOR AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

5 CEUs are offered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Speakers and Demonstrations will include:

❖ Brittany Chesser, Aquatic Vegetation Management Specialist and Lead Diagnostic Technician TAMU, will lead the discussions on how to identify aquatic plants and algae species, applying integrated pest management techniques to control plant species and improve overall pond health.

❖ Dr. Todd Sink, Associate Professor TAMU, Department of Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Extension Specialist, Director of the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory, who will guide you to the processes involved in fish stocking and management to meet your desired fisheries goals.

❖ Garrett Stamport, Fisheries Biologist and Herbicide Specialist with PRISTINE POND SOLUTIONS in Texas and Louisiana will demonstrate biological and chemical applications, sprayers and injection equipment techniques.

This one-day program will be held at the:

Old Settlers Park Lakeview Pavilion
1301 Harrell Parkway,
Round Rock, Texas

Demonstrations will be held lakeside.

This program is open to all and is a collaboration with County AgriLife Extension Offices in Williamson, Bell, Lee, Milam, Travis and Burnet Counties and the Williamson County Farm Bureau.

Cost for the program $75 and includes LUNCH and 5-CEUs.

To find out more information, contact Gary Pastushok or Kristal at Williamson County AgriLife gary.pastushok@ag.tamu.edu at the Extension Office at 512-943-3300.

–Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, Williamson County

Farm Credit East Presents 2023 Northeast Fisheries Outlook

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ENFIELD, Conn. — Join Farm Credit East on Wednesday, April 5, at 12 p.m. for a free webinar that will provide a recap of the Northeast commercial fishing industry in 2022, as well as economic projections for the year ahead.

John Sackton, founder and publisher of SeafoodNews.com, will provide an update on the current status of some key Northeast shellfish species, with a particular focus on the long-term success and sustainability of the scallop fishery. Register to attend at FarmCreditEast.com/Webinars.

This webinar is part of Farm Credit East’s Insights and Perspectives series, which includes webinars and outlook papers for the diverse sectors of Northeast agriculture, and forest products. Visit FarmCreditEast.com to read the commercial fishing industry outlook report along with articles and webinars for dairy, maple, the green industry, and forest products.

The fishing outlook webinar taking place on April 5 is free to attend. Learn more at FarmCreditEast.com/Webinars. Contact Chris Laughton at (800) 562-2235 or Chris.Laughton@farmcrediteast.com for more information.

–Farm Credit East

MU announces new Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Through a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF), the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources made a joint announcement featuring the launch of its new Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems today.

“Clean water and healthy aquatic systems are vital for our global future,” said Mun Choi, University of Missouri president. “This Institute will be a crucial resource for citizens, government entities and private industries committed to this mission in the years to come, and MU is proud to be a driving force in that mission moving forward.”

The establishment of the institute is made possible through a $1.7 million gift from an anticipated $30 million endowment held by MCHF, whose mission is to enhance the conservation of Missouri’s forest, fish and wildlife resources. MCHF and its donors and partners are committed to building the endowment over the next 10 years for the continued operation of the institute. The endowment will help hire the institute director and two assistant professors.

“This new public-private partnership is a great benefit to the entire state of Missouri,” said Michael Williams, chair of the UM System Board of Curators. “The research and work done by MU is essential for the health and wellbeing of Missourians and this institute will help preserve a rich and vibrant environment and water systems for generations to come.”

The institute will support cultivating conservation professionals through workforce development, research and public policy. Specifically, it will:

 

•Provide future generations access to coursework focused on fisheries, wetlands and aquatic systems with an emphasis on research, academics and service.
•Build regional and national partnerships to collaboratively address water issues.
•Conduct key, cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.
•Develop and support public policy.
•Communicate knowledge gained through an array of platforms.
•Build a pipeline of talent to benefit conservation agencies and organizations across the country.

 

“We appreciate and support the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation’s mission to provide future generations with public access to the world-class fishing, healthy aquatic habitats, clean water and productive agricultural and natural resource economies that we all enjoy today,” said Jackie Lewis, vice chancellor for advancement. “Today marks the latest milestone in the relationship between the University of Missouri and the great state we serve.”

Aquatic systems are composed of the entire ecosystem within a body of water — a wetland, lake, river, stream or pond. Quality management of these systems provide clean water and recreation for people and wildlife habitats.

“As a nonprofit supporting the mission of the Missouri Department of Conservation, we are honored to work with multiple partners and donors on a legacy opportunity that develops inspired and educated conservation stewards,” said Tricia Burkhardt, executive director of MCHF. “These future leaders will have a lasting impact on our precious water resources. We are grateful for our generous donors who believe in our vision and help make it a reality.”

The vision of the institute is to create a national model for public-private partnerships that advance sustainable conservation and management of fisheries, wetlands and other aquatic systems by integrating areas of study that often have been addressed separately.

“This new institute will be a national model for how we positively leverage the power of partnerships to bring together fisheries, wetlands and other aquatic systems into one integrated area of study to not only further science, but also develop future talent in the conservation field,” said Sara Parker Pauley, director of MDC. “We would not be at this pivotal point without the shared vision and dedication of our great partners here in Missouri.”

In addition to the essential workforce development that will enable the MDC to continue supporting the state’s aquatic systems to the highest standards, the partnership will provide valuable educational opportunities for students including internships, cooperative education experiences and graduate assistantships.

“Through this valuable partnership, our students will have access to real-world educational opportunities that will greatly enhance their learning and overall experience during their time with us,” said Christopher Daubert, vice chancellor and CAFNR dean. “These kinds of educational experiences make our graduates stand out from the crowd in the workforce, and we are proud of the role we can play in conserving aquatic systems in Missouri and beyond for future generations.”

Eric Kurzejeski, program director in the School of Natural Resources and former outreach programs chief at MDC, has been named interim director of the institute. A national search to find a permanent director will begin immediately. Learn more about the institute on CAFNR’s School of Natural Resources’ website.

— University of Missouri

Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management looks ahead

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management has come a long way over last year.

Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, took the helm nearly a year ago. Since being appointed, he and other faculty have been planning the roadmap and laying foundational elements that will be critical for the department’s future.

An implementation strategy is now in the works, he said, to help navigate challenges and maximize opportunities for the department.

“It is an exciting time for the newly formed department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management,” Lopez said. “Faculty and staff have been working hard to grow the department, and enthusiasm and thoughtful actions have been key ingredients to develop something special. We expect this momentum to carry us into the future.”

Investing in student teaching and mentoring

Over the last year, the department has developed and added curricula and professional certificates in three discipline areas for students, said Gerard Kyle, Ph.D., associate department head of academics. The department’s course offerings will continue to provide degrees and certifications in rangeland, wildlife, and fisheries sciences and management professions.

The department is actively recruiting faculty who can bring problem-solving experience to students, Kyle said. Recently, the department hired several new faculty members representing disciplines ranging from natural resource economics, wildlife/fish diseases, soil and plant health and relationships to big game management, animal movements and data analytics that enhance other study areas resulting in a strong faculty team.

“Strong academics begin with a strong team of faculty, and we are working to assemble experts who can add value to the department’s degrees and certificates our students achieve,” he said. “The department has a strong reputation, but we are enhancing our ability to meet the professional needs within these fields and provide opportunities and careers for our students.”

Kyle said undergraduate students will access new, field-oriented experiential learning opportunities. For instance, a 10-day summer field course is held in collaboration with the Selah Bamberger Ranch to provide students with a range of hands-on learning opportunities centered around the practical application of techniques used in rangeland, wildlife and fisheries management.

During this year’s field course, students worked with faculty and a variety of professionals from private industry and nonprofit organizations such as the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, NRI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Students have responded positively to the program, said Jim Cathey, Ph.D., professor and associate director of NRI.

“Students conveyed their appreciation for field experiences and hands-on learning, and the Selah Bamberg Ranch was the perfect laboratory,” Cathey said. “Their classroom education became real, as these juniors and seniors led the life of a field biologist. I am thankful to our colleagues outside of Texas A&M who made it a priority to teach, mentor and create professional pipelines for our students.”

Focused attention on stakeholder needs

The department has also been engaged with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers around the state to improve grazing lands, livestock and wildlife challenges by hiring Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists to reinvigorate and develop critical labs and subject area centers.

Lopez appointed Bill Fox, Ph.D., rangeland ecologist and associate professor, to lead the Center for Natural Resources Information Technology, CNRIT, and Doug Tolleson, Ph.D.,  AgriLife Research range management specialist, to spearhead its Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab, GAN, Lab, which is being relocated to Bryan-College Station.

CNRIT supports a holistic and interdisciplinary approach for research and outreach to support grazing operations, Fox said. It brings support systems to producers, which assist land management decisions through its two cohesive efforts, the GAN Lab and the Rangeland Decision-Support Laboratory, RDSL.

“We will engage with land and natural resource managers across the state to help guide management through science-based data while ensuring these decision-making resources are made easily available to the public,” he said.

The GAN Lab provides services to producers around the state to help monitor nutrition and physiology of domestic livestock, exotic hoof stock and native wildlife. This lab focuses on diagnostic diet analyses of animal manure to support strategic nutritional management recommendations.

These analyses, coupled with environmental data and computer modeling, can provide recommendations for sustainable grazing practices related to optimal animal weight or body condition, stocking rates, pasture rotation and supplemental feeding to meet producer goals, Fox said.

A suite of decision-support tools is also available to land managers through the RDSL, Tolleson said. These tools combine big data with various technologies, including remote sensing, computer simulation and GIS to inform land and environmental stewardship across the U.S. and around the world.

Tolleson said CNRIT and its labs use or create tools to address real challenges land managers face, including brush and weed management, plant growth dynamics, forage risk assessments, livestock nutrition and livestock market information.

The Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management, CGRM, is being revitalized to deliver science-based practical solutions for Texas producers. Researchers will focus on threats like drought and emerging opportunities like carbon storage while following its mission to protect the ecological and economic resiliency of grazing lands and the ranching operations they support. Jeff Goodwin, Ph.D., NRI program director, will lead the center’s growth as incoming CGRM director.

Goodwin said there are 655 million acres of grazing lands in the U.S. Those acres support a wide variety of plants and animals and represent vital infrastructure for the livestock and ranch management industry.

“Our work and research will be applied to real-world needs, conveyed in meaningful ways, and inform policy-making that encourages wise use of these landscapes,” Goodwin said. “Linking the center across the Texas A&M University System and the students in the department are key ingredients to successful outcomes, where our work matters to stakeholders.”

Looking toward the future

Lopez said the department’s external advisory committee was instrumental in emphasizing the need for applied science focused on rangeland, wildlife and fisheries management and policy, with the intent to develop sound management practices and inform producer and policy maker decisions.

“Our administrators agreed, and now we are poised to achieve wonderful outcomes,” Lopez said.

Lopez said support for this vision means the department will remain at the forefront of problem-solving through applied science and connecting people with nature. With the global population nearing 8 billion, providing life necessities like food, water and shelter in sustainable ways will increasingly rely on innovative management practices.

The centers, faculty, staff and students will all play a vital role in addressing land, resource and ecological stewardship challenges, and providing sustainable solutions, he said.

Students will become next-generation experts, industry leaders and developers. Faculty will continue to build on established science and make new discoveries and breakthroughs. The centers will continue to work with stakeholders to streamline productivity and safeguard resources while improving ecological health.

“There are monumental challenges related to sustainability,” he said. “I am proud to lead this department and a group of people who are passionate about addressing the challenges with practical findings.”

–Adam Russell
Texas A&M AgriLife Communications

Italy's salty Po Delta hurting agriculture, fisheries

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PORTO TOLLE, Italy (AP) — Drought and unusually hot weather have raised the salinity in Italy’s largest delta, where the mighty Po River feeds into the Adriatic Sea south of Venice, and it’s killing rice fields along with the shellfish that are a key ingredient in one of Italy’s culinary specialties: spaghetti with clams.

At least one-third of the stock of prized double-valve clams raised in the Po Delta have died off. Plants along the banks of the Po River are wilting as they drink in water from increasingly salty aquifers and secondary waterways have dried up, shrinking amphibians and birds’ wetland homes.

“It is evident that there is an entire system with an ecology that will have permanent problems,’’ said Giancarlo Mantovani, director of Po River Basin Authority. The ecosystem includes the Po Delta Park, which along with neighboring lands in Veneto form a reserve recognized by UNESCO for its biodiversity.

The amount of water entering the delta from the Po River is at an all-time low, hitting just 95 cubic meters (3,350 cubic feet) a second last month, due to drought conditions caused by a lack of wintertime snowpack and spring and summer rains. That is one-tenth of annual averages. It has been nearly two months since farmers have been able to tap the river water for agriculture.

The impact may be even more lasting, as saltwater is leaching inland distances never before recorded, and seeping into aquifers, underground layers of rock that can hold water.

And while deltas are by definition an area of exchange between fresh and salt water, the movement is becoming more and more one-directional: Inland penetration of saltwater has increased from two kilometers (just over a mile) in the 1960s and 10 kilometers (six miles) in the 1980s to an astounding 38 kilometers (nearly 24 miles) this year.

“The territory around the Po is three meters below sea level, therefore there is a continual flow of saline water that is going into the aquifers,’’ Mantovani said. “We are therefore not only creating an agricultural problem, a human problem, but also an environmental problem. … This is a perfect storm.”

For growers of clams, excessive salinity, high temperatures and the resulting spread of algae are suffocating the mollusk that is the centerpiece of one of summertime Italy’s favorite dishes: Spaghetti alle vongole. And none are more prized than the vongole veraci with a striped and grooved shell that are raised in the Adriatic Sea.

“You can see the clams are suffering,’’ said Katisucia Bellan, who has been clamming for 27 years. “In the afternoon, with this heat, the lagoon dries up. You can pass with the tractor here.”

According to the Coldiretti agricultural lobby, this year’s die-off could accelerate if the proper exchange of salt and fresh water is not restored. It blames the failure to remove sediment from the delta, which allows oxygen and fresh water into the lagoon, for aggravating the situation.

Meanwhile, clam farmers worried that more stock could die have rushed to market while they still have mollusks to sell. This abundance has forced down prices, creating more economic hardship. “There is a double negative effect: die-off and lower prices,’’ said Coldiretti’s Alessandro Faccioli said.

Nearby rice growers also are watching the rise of salinity with increasing anxiety. The paddies of the Po Delta are a small part of Italy’s national rice production, which is centered in drought-stricken Piedmont and Lombardy closer to the source of the Po River. While the bigger producers are suffering from a lack of water in their fields, those in the delta are suffering the increased salt content, which is killing off plants.

Grower Elisa Moretto, who runs a small family business, hopes they can salvage one-third of their crop this year, but that remains to be seen. If she can eke a profit is up to other forces, including increased fuel and fertilizer costs.

But the real worry is for the future, if salinity rises and causes permanent damage to the aquifers.

“If that happens, everything dies,’’ Moretto said.

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

–By LUIGI NAVARRA and LUCA BRUNO Associated Press

JC NERR, Rutgers partners developing resilience checklist for N.J.’s commercial fisheries

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR) is working with a team from Rutgers University to develop a Resilience Checklist for New Jersey’s Commercial Fisheries to help fishing businesses evaluate and improve their preparedness for coastal hazards and fisheries changes. Funded by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, the project team includes members from the JC NERR, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, and Rutgers Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis. The team adapted the Resilience Checklist from similar Fisheries Resilience Indices developed for use in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Resilience Checklist builds on the JC NERR’s previous work to help coastal communities assess and improve their resilience to coastal hazards. The new tool allows New Jersey’s commercial fishing businesses to reflect on steps they have already taken to be resilient and to identify opportunities to further prepare for current and future risks associated with coastal hazards and changing fisheries dynamics. Although it can be used individually by one business or fisherman, it is most effective when completed collaboratively by several fishing businesses or fishermen from a New Jersey port or dock. The Resilience Checklist is intended to start conversation and coordination between dock managers, fishermen, processors, dealers, and others involved in the industry about planning and preparation to address vulnerabilities. Each section includes online resources that can be used to learn more and develop solutions to improve resilience

The checklist is organized into four sections to comprehensively address fishing business resilience:

  • Assess Coastal Hazard Risks – Identify and understand the risks from coastal storms, flooding, and shoreline erosion.
  • Prepare for Coastal Hazards – Develop a plan to prepare for the impacts of coastal storms, flooding, and shoreline erosion.
  • Recover from Coastal Hazards – Identify proactive steps for speedier recovery after a coastal hazard event.
  • Assess and Prepare for Fisheries Changes – Consider the impacts of potential shifts in fisheries resources and identify strategies to improve resilience.

In 2021, an initial draft of the Resilience Checklist was reviewed and tested by commercial fishing business stakeholders from four New Jersey fishing ports – Port Norris, Cape May, Barnegat Light, and Belford. The original scope of work for the project included in-person focus groups with fishing industry stakeholders at these ports; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the project team adapted a hybrid approach. Stakeholders provided input through a combination of written review and comments, virtual discussions, and outdoor small group meetings during the summer. The project team synthesized feedback and through an iterative process developed a revised version of the Resilience Checklist.

In early 2022, the revised Resilience Checklist was provided to marine fisheries managers for further review and input, and on March 18, the project team met with a small group to discuss their feedback and further improve the tool. This group included representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The next step is to develop a final iteration of the Resilience Checklist based on the fisheries managers’ feedback. The project team is developing an outreach plan to disseminate the tool to fishing business stakeholders later this year.

–Rutgers University

SDSU wildlife and fisheries graduate students attend 2022 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference

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BROOKINGS, S.D. — Three South Dakota State University graduate students from the Department of Natural Resource Management attended the 2022 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference Feb. 13-16 in Des Moines, Iowa.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to catch up on the latest research and meet people in the same field,” said Alison Coulter, assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management.

The students presented posters with information on their graduate research projects and received feedback to help them in their future findings.

“Presenting is always a good opportunity to get to know professionals and get some feedback to see if I could be doing something better or if there’s different analysis,” said Logan Cutler, graduate research assistant in the Department of Natural Resource Management from Neenah, Wisconsin.

Cutler’s research topic is on the different habitats and diets of walleye fish in Lake Kampeska near Watertown, South Dakota.

“I think the conference was an amazing opportunity to meet incredible people and mentors,” said Hannah Mulligan, graduate research assistant in the Department of Natural Resource Management from Charleston, South Carolina. “I learned a lot and was able to share my research, which I loved as well. There was a lot of interest in my project, which was encouraging.”

Mulligan’s graduate research project is focused on assessing the risk of silver carp in bighead carp spreads posed by the live bait trade.

“I got the chance to talk to a lot of professionals in the field that gave me a lot of good advice not only on my research, but on the interviewing process and job applications for various agencies to help me get a job once I graduate,” said Maria Erceg, graduate research assistant in the Department of Natural Resource Management from Duluth, Minnesota.

Erceg presented her research on federally endangered pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River.

Both Cutler and Mulligan were selected as finalists for the Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students and received $500 Student and Early Career Travel Awards. The Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award for Outstanding Students was created to recognize undergraduate and graduate students for their achievements in the fields of fisheries and wildlife management and to encourage participation in the American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society, and the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference.

About the Natural Resource Management Department

The South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management has expertise in training students to preserve the integrity of natural resources. By utilizing interdisciplinary approaches, graduates are prepared for a multitude of career options. The department offers five undergraduate majors and two minors, as well as graduate and doctoral degrees in biological sciences and wildlife and fisheries sciences.

— SDSU CAFES

Wildlife and fisheries sciences alum Kevin Robling leads South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

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BROOKINGS, S.D. – 2008 wildlife and fisheries sciences alum Kevin Robling was recently selected by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in April of 2021 to lead the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks as the new department secretary.

After graduating from SDSU with his bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences in 2008, Robling pursued graduate school and earned his master’s degree in wildlife sciences in 2011. In addition to being a student, he played as an offensive lineman for the SDSU Jackrabbits football team and was a member of the All-Conference Academic Team’s in 2006, 2007 and 2008, All-conference in 2007 and 2008, Academic all-American in 2008, and went onto receive a NCAA post-graduate scholarship.

“One of my favorite memories from my time at SDSU was beating NDSU in 2007 for the conference championship in front of a huge home crowd and then beating them again in 2008 in the Fargo dome in front of their home crowd,” said Robling.

While at SDSU, Robling found his college football coach, John Stiegelmeier, and professor, Jonathan Jenks, to be most influential; he credits Stiegelmeier for inspiring him to make a difference each day and Jenks for providing him with meaningful mentorship throughout his time as a student and into his professional career.

He particularly found his large mammal ecology class to be most interesting and one that he continues to find helpful in his role today.

“We took a field trip to the Black Hills to capture and radio collar mountain lions and bighorn sheep – that is where I realized large mammal research and management was the specialized career path I wanted to pursue,” said Robling.

An Early-Found Passion for the Outdoors

“My father introduced me to the great outdoors and took me hunting and fishing starting at a very young age,” said Robling. “When I was 12 years old, I remember learning about wildlife biology through 4-H and I have pursued that passion ever since.”

Growing up and working on a family farm near Lydia, Minnesota, Robling credits his upbringing for his strong work ethic, which he believes has largely contributed to his career success.

“My mother was a state senator in Minnesota for 16 years and I really learned how to communicate and develop relationships from her,” said Robling. “My desire to lead a team and focus on teamwork developed early on through my involvement in 4-H, high school and college sports and throughout my professional career.”

Turning a Passion into a Career

Shortly after earning his graduate degree, Robling began his career with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks as a wildlife resource biologist in Sioux Falls in 2011, then worked as a big game wildlife biologist in Rapid City from 2012-2017 and a special projects coordinator in Pierre in 2018. He went on to serve as the deputy secretary in Pierre from 2019-2020 and the interim secretary in December of 2020 before stepping into his current role.

Robling and his wife, Holly, and their three children Reese (4), Sawyer (4) and Cash (2), enjoy spending time outdoors as a family. (Courtesy SDSU)

During that time, Robling was recognized with several awards including the 2014 Outstanding Performance and 2015 Outstanding Teamwork Awards from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, and was named the 2016 Wildlife Manager of the Year by the South Dakota Bowhunter’s Association.

Through his various roles, he has been involved in strengthening the big game research and management program in South Dakota, expanding recreational opportunities on public lands, reducing participation barriers and simplifying regulations.

Most notably, he was assigned to a special project in 2017 in regard to non-meandered waters, which are bodies of water overlying private property that have flooded as a result of years of rainfall and that are not part of a meandered basin. Robling was tasked with bridging the gap between landowners and outdoor enthusiasts to allow hunting and fishing on non-meandered waters. His efforts included creating agreements, discussing opportunities with landowners, trying to keep waters open and opening waters that had previously been closed. As a result of his work on the project, Kelly Hepler, the previous department secretary, appointed Robling to his previous position as deputy secretary.

In his role as department secretary, Robling says he most looks forward to working with landowners, farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and women and other outdoor enthusiasts who have a passion for conservation, wildlife, hunting, fishing, trapping and camping.

“I truly believe the awesome outdoor recreational opportunities we have here in South Dakota greatly contribute to the excellent quality of life of the folks who live here and our visitors,” said Robling. “It is our job as a department to conserve our state’s outdoor heritage, connect people to the outdoors and to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.”

So far, he says building relationships, finding compromise and strengthening the state’s outdoor heritage has been most rewarding about his career. Specifically, his favorite part about working for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks has been striving to make a difference each day and the people and passionate staff on “Team GFP.”

Outside of work, Robling enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.

“My wife Holly, who is also an SDSU grad, and I have deep roots in agriculture, and we continue to grow our cow-calf herd today to ensure our three children Reese (4), Sawyer (4) and Cash (2) also develop a strong work ethic and a love for the outdoors,” said Robling. “When I’m not at home or in the office, my family and I are outside, and we are outside a lot! From camping in our state parks to big and small game hunting across the state, people can find me on a lake, in a tent or camper, on a horse, or on a tractor feeding my cows with one of my kids by my side.”

As an SDSU alum, Robling encourages young adults to consider pursuing careers in the in the fields of wildlife and fisheries, conservation, natural resource management and law enforcement.

“If students have a passion for the outdoors and serving people, this career is a perfect fit,” said Robling. “It truly is where a passion turns into a career.”

— SDSU CAFES