Ecosystem status report for the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem

"The Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NES LME) is a dynamic, highly productive, and intensively studied system providing a broad spectrum of ecosystem goods and services [1, 2]. This region, encompassing the continental shelf area between Cape Hatteras and the Gulf of Maine (Figure 1.1), spans approximately 250,000 km2 and supports some of the highest revenue fisheries in the nation. The system has historically undergone profound changes due to very heavy exploitation by distant-water and domestic fishing fleets [3]. Further, the region has experienced changes in climate and physical forcing that have contributed to large-scale alteration in ecosystem structure and function. Projections of future climate change highlight the need to understand the effects of natural and anthropogenically driven perturbations to this system and to devise effective management and mitigation strategies in response to these changes. In this report, we track changes in key indicators of climate, physical forcing, ecosystem dynamics, and the role of humans in this system"--Introduction. by the Ecosystem Assessment Program, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center. "July 2009." Includes bibliographical references.