Biology and Natural History
PIER Projects PIER research addresses questions related to the biology and natural history of fishes off our coast, with topics including age and growth, stock structure, and physiology. Collectively, these studies can be applied towards solving real-world issues related to sustainable resource management. Lab BFT Sample SF Sample About PIER PIER Projects Project Details Back How to get involved ...
Fish Tagging and Movement Studies
PIER Projects PIER uses advanced satellite tagging technology to better understand the movement patterns and migration habits of marine fishes found off our coast. Outcomes from these ongoing studies are used to fill in crucial data gaps to ensure that fisheries managers have the most accurate, up-to-date information possible. Tag data is also used in PIER’s gear development research. SA Opah Tag SA SF Tag Bets Tag ...
Sustainable Fishing Gear Development
PIER Projects Since 2010, PIER has been working with West Coast resource managers to design and implement a new commercial fishery that targets swordfish deep during the day.This new gear, called Deep-Set Buoy Gear, was developed to capitalize on the unique biology of swordfish while avoiding sensitive non-target catch. Deep-set buoy gear is now an authorized fishery and is one of the cleanest options for harvesting swordfish off our coast, with over 90% swordfish catch in the commercial fleet. Buoy Illustration Malolo Buoy Buoy...
Education and Outreach
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="PIER research is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and directly communicated to fisheries biologists through strong collaborative ties with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_column_text]In addition, PIER research and project updates are presented at several public venues all across southern California. The PIER team also engages younger audiences through presentations to K-12 schools in southern California. As advocates of marine stewardship PIER established a partnership with the Oceanside SEA Center (OSC) to develop a diverse hub of marine-based education and recreation in Southern California. This synergistic collaboration focuses on promoting stewardship and...
Swordfish Studies
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="PIER has been focused on swordfish research for over 15 years, with active studies currently underway on understanding movement patterns, habitat utilization, physiology, stock structure and sustainable fishery development." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_empty_space height="15px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mkd_tabs style="vertical_with_text" navigation_width="small"][mkd_tab icon_pack="font_awesome" fa_icon="" tab_title="Background"][vc_column_text] Swordfish are large, open water predators that are capable of inhabiting a wide range of environmental conditions from the warm surface waters to depths well beneath the thermocline (300 to >1,000 m), factors that have contributed to their near-cosmopolitan range. They possesses several adaptations for life down deep including intricate gills that are designed for efficient oxygen extraction, very large eyes, and a "brain...
Commercial Gear Development
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="PIER works with local fisherman to develop sustainable options for our fishing communities." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_column_text] Since 2010, PIER has been using science and technology to develop gear options that allow local fishers to target swordfish with reduced impacts to the environment. This unique approach uses fine-scale tag data to identify times and depths when the target catch can be selectively harvested. PIER’s gear development efforts have resulted in the development of two commercial gear types for swordfish that have been recently authorized for use by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. PIER continues to work with the fishing community to find sustainable solutions that...
Physiology Studies
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="Although often not a primary study objective, the PIER research team continues to collaborate on several physiological and ecological studies on highly migratory species. The bulk of these studies have been on species that are relatively difficult to access and therefore have received relatively little study to date." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_column_text]Understanding the physiological basis behind movements and performance helps us understand how different species use and partition the marine environment. An unexpected result of the trial and testing of Deep-Set Buoy Gear was the unprecedented access it provided to live and healthy swordfish specimens for tagging and physiological studies. Although swordfish continue...
Survivorship Studies
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="In addition to fishery development and stock structure questions, PIER also focuses on questions related to post release survival. PIER is keenly interested in the disposition of species after they are caught and released." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_column_text]Catch and release mortality estimates play an important role in management models and also provide anglers with information on their impacts to local stocks. Over the recent past, the PIER team has performed catch and release survivorship studies on several pelagic species. Most of the survivorship studies have been through collaborative projects with the National Marine Fisheries Service Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program (NMFS/NOAA). Documenting gear...
Opah
[vc_row][vc_column][mkd_section_title title="PIER has recently partnered with the National Marine Fisheries Service to kick off a new electronic tagging project on opah, a poorly studied fish that is common off the California coast." title_size="medium" title_color="" title_text_align="" margin_bottom="" width=""][vc_column_text] Fishery Development The goal of the work is to better characterize opah habitat, document movements and connectivity with neighboring stocks and begin to collect the data needed for effective management. One component of the larger opah study will focus on collecting basic biological information that can be used to assist with resource management. This work will collaborate with regional partners both in the US and Mexico and initiate a study...