Quinault Indian Nation

Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS)

Joe Schumacker, Marine Resources ScientistQuinault Department of Fisheries

Treaty Tribes of Washington State

Unique Ocean Governance Area

• Over 20 Treaty Tribes in Western Washington Alone.

• Treaty-reserved fishing rights in Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean EEZ.

• Co-management of fisheries includes co-management of habitat.

• Quinault co-manages over 3,000 sq. nautical miles of ocean area.

• Tribes must manage resources for the future. Place-based people’s identity depends on it.

Big Ocean: Little Information• 10 years ago – assets in the Quinault ocean area few

• Mostly research directed– often seasonal only.

Since

• New assets off WA include: Sea Gliders, Permanently Moored Deployments, HF Radar, Land-based Monitoring Programs.

• New assets coming online in 2014.• 2009 Quinault invited to join the Northwest Association of

Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS).• NANOOS has integrated most of these and now makes much

of this information available in real-time or near real-time.

NANOOS Visualization System (NVS)

Why is NANOOS Valuable to Quinault?

•Human Health and SafetyHarmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s)

Sea Conditions (Weather)Storm DataTsunami Inundation Maps

Ocean FisheriesSalmonRazor ClamsSardinesDungeness CrabSablefishHalibut

HAB’s• Toxic Algal Blooms first found in 1998.• Closed Razor Clam digging -

unprecedented in Quinault history.• Surf-zone now monitored by Quinault,

Quileute and Makah Tribes as part of the ORHAB Project (Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom project)• NANOOS assets now coming on-line with

capability to provide early warning.

IOOS 2014 proposal: Operational ecological forecasting of HABs in the Pacific Northwest using an ESP

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Modified from Hickey et al. 2013

Summer/fall good weather Summer/fall weak stormsWinter/early spring strong storms

The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP)

• Advanced, automated, quantitative, in situ, biological sensing system

• Near real-time data delivery

• Extended, high frequency, and responsive surveys

• Early warning of HABs and their toxins

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The NWFSC’s

ESP “Friday”

Environmental Sampling Processor

Ocean Fleet

Why is NANOOS Valuable to Quinault?

• Human Health and SafetyHarmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s)Sea Conditions (Weather)Storm DataTsunami Inundation Zone Maps

•Ecosystem Information•NANOOS Makes Data Available For:

• Hypoxia (“Dead-Zones”)• Ocean Acidification• Upwelling and Currents Information

CMOP – Quinault

Sea-Glider Collaboration

Quinault F/V Whisper

Preparing to deploy Slocum Glider in Quinault area

Water Column Data

Sea-Glider Collaboration

Why is NANOOS Valuable to Quinault?

• Human Health and SafetyHarmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s)Sea Conditions (Weather)Storm DataTsunami Inundation Zone Maps

• Ecosystem Information• NANOOS Makes Data Available For:

• Hypoxia (“Dead Zones”)• Ocean Acidification• Upwelling and Currents Information

•NANOOS Networks People

Thank You