Using Seabirds to Predict the Abundance of Chinook Salmon off Central California

PRBO studies the marine food web in the California Current ecosystem.  From our studies of seabirds at the Farallon Islands we can understand and predict some of the impacts of environmental change on marine wildlife, including salmon populations.

Krill are the base of the marine food web in the California Current region.  Both seabirds and salmon rely on it to create a healthy marine food web and both are affected by changing krill and forage fish populations and changing ocean conditions.

It is extremely difficult for fisheries managers to predict salmon abundance and thus set sustainable harvest quota to ensure there is enough salmon for people, other ocean predators, and to sustain the population.  PRBO recently developed statistical models that use data on seabird breeding success at the Farallon Islands to improve fisheries managers' understanding of how the ocean affects salmon and to improve their forecasts of salmon abundance.