A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Landings and Ex-Vessel Value for California Commercial Marine Fisheries, 1930-2010

We evaluate an 80 year record of California commercial marine fisheries using a recently recovered spatially-explicit dataset. This unique dataset includes landing estimates and ex-vessel values from 1930 to 2010 using 10-by-10 minute ‘blocks’ that extend the entire length of coastal California and up to 180 km offshore. We select marine fisheries based on relative importance (by volume and value) and group into nine broadly defined categories; groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, salmonids, game fish, Dungeness crab, other crustaceans, echinoderms and abalone. We use bathymetric criteria to minimize implausible catches and to delineate relative species habitat within each block. Ex-vessel value was standardized to 2010 U.S. dollars. We use ArcGIS to map total catch volume and ex-vessel value for each fishery and then combine all fisheries to quantify a spatially-explicit index of historical fishery extraction and value.  We explore patterns of geographic expansion over time and identify areas with historically high ex-vessel value in relation to newly established Marine Protected Areas. Quantifying the spatial organization of fishing activity in the California Current ecosystem for nearly a century provides spatiotemporal context for marine spatial planning, habitat impact assessments, quantification of ecosystem services, and ecosystem-based approaches to marine fisheries management.