Ecosystem status report for the northeast shelf large marine ecosystem, 2011 Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem, 2011

"The Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NES LME) has supported important commercial fisheries for several centuries. This highly productive region has experienced important structural changes over the last several decades under intensive exploitation. Emerging evidence for important changes in physical forcing and ecological response in relation to climate variability in the North Atlantic further highlights the need to address the broad suite of anthropogenic and natural drivers in the system. Here, we update our earlier evaluation of the status of the Northeast U.S Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (1) and expand its focus to include further information on ecological subregions of the shelf"--Introduction. by the Ecosystem Assessment Program, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. "April 2012." Includes bibliographical references (pages 31-32).