27th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Montpellier, France5 August 2015

Angela Martin, Blue Climate Solutions

Fish Carbon: Valuation of Marine Vertebrate Carbon Services as a Means to Prioritise Marine Biodiversity Conservation

P. Lindgren

Carbon and ConservationCarbon stored in terrestrial forests• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and

forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries (e.g. UN-REDD Programme)

• Carbon marketsCarbon stored in the ocean (Blue Carbon)• Conservation and restoration of coastal

ecosystems (e.g. Blue Carbon Initiative, Blue Forests Project)

• Voluntary carbon markets (Mikoko Pamoja)

Jeff Turner

Céline Roger

Marine VertebratesHistorically extractive value only, if any…

1. Keith-Ellenbogen 2. Catlin Seaview Survey 3. Steven Lutz 4. NOAA5. Peter G. Allinson 6. Terry Goss 7. Steven Lutz 8. Matt Knoth

Fish CarbonWhat role do marine life and oceanic ecosystems play in addressing the global climate challenge?

Lutz and Martin 2014 Laffoley et al. 2014

Marine Vertebrate Carbon Services

Pathways – Pumps – Trophic Cascades

Lutz and Martin 2014

Heithaus et al. 2014

1. Trophic Cascade Carbon

Food web dynamics help maintain the carbon storage& sequestration function of coastal blue carbon ecosystems

2. Biomixing CarbonTurbulence & drag associated with movement mixes layers of nutrient-rich water Enhances primary production & uptake of dissolved CO2 by phytoplankton

Keith Ellenbogen, OceanaProjeto Tamar Brazil

3. Bony Fish CarbonateExcrete metabolised carbon as calcium carbonate (CaCO3)

• Enhance oceanic alkalinity

• Potential buffer against ocean acidification

Wilson et al. 2009

4. Whale PumpNutrients from whales stimulate primary production by phytoplankton, thus uptake of dissolved CO2

• Faeces• Urine• Dead skin• Placenta

Tony Wu

5. Twilight Zone CarbonMesopelagic fish feed in the upper ocean, transport consumed organic carbon to deeper waters (200-800 m)

Swedish Museum of Natural History

6. Biomass CarbonCarbon stored in biomass

Larger individuals store proportionally greater amounts over prolonged lifespans

Denis Hawkins

7. Deadfall Carbon

© 2007 MBARI

Carcasses export carbon to the ocean floor where it enters benthic food webs & sediments

8. Marine Vertebrate Mediated Carbon

Organic carbon transferred through marine food webs is transported to deep water & sediment via rapidly sinking faecal material

Catlin Seaview Survey

Key Questions

• Coordinate research into the role of marine vertebrates in the carbon cycle

• Identify knowledge gaps• Model oceanic biological

pump

What is the total significance of Fish Carbon?

NOAA

Management ImplicationsEEZs:•Precautionary principle•Fisheries management•Marine protected areas

International:•High seas conservation

1. Projeto Tamar Brazil 2. Alessio Viora3. Wikimedia

National Policy and Management Plans

International Carbon Commitments

International Conservation Agreements

Other Mechanisms (Carbon Finance, PES)

Goals Pathways

Mitigating & Adapting to Climate Change

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation

Sustainable Management of Marine Resources

Sustainable Development of Blue Economy

Cross-Cutting Application

Opportunities for Collaboration• Demonstrations • Socio-economic & cultural analysis• Oceanic carbon mechanisms• High seas conservation

Egon Philipp Steven LutzRichard Akhtar

angela.martin@bluecsolutions.org

www.bluecsolutions.org@BlueCSolutions #BlueCarbon #FishCarbon

www.grida.no/publications/fish-carbon/

Thank you!

Questions?

NECWA