Eric J. Ward

Eric J. Ward

Statistician @ NWFSC, Affiliate professor at UW (SAFS)

Detecting effects of commercial fishing on marine species

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This spatiotemporal modelling paper, led by Kotaro Ono (post-doc, AFSC) is just out in Ecological Applications. Using spatial species distribution models, we combined several NOAA groundfish trawl surveys with spatiotemporal data on fishing catch and effort, to ask whether we could detect effects of fishing on Dover sole density. Get the paper here.

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NCEAS profile

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I was recently flattered to have NCEAS profile me as part of our synthesis work related to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill here.

Conservation challenges of recovering top predators

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Predators are critical components of ecosystems, and provide numerous ecological, economic, and social benefits. Many of the predator populations that have recovered in the US (and worldwide) after receiving protection (Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act) can be seen as conservation success stories. These recoveries may introduce new management challenges, however. In a new paper out today, we use well known examples from 2 very different ecosystems (Northeast Pacific Ocean, Yellowstone) to highlight 3 emerging challenges:

Eulachon and hotspots

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As part of a collaboration with some modelers and researchers from the observer program at NOAA, we just had a new paper come out in Ecological Applications. Using two independent datasets, we were able to verify common patterns in both – that populations of eulachon off the west coast of Oregon and Washington appear to be increasing. Further, we were also able to identify some areas of increased presence — areas off La Push, and Coos Bay for example, have consistently higher than average abundance. Link to paper here, and a recent writeup of some great eulachon bycatch work is in the NY Times here.