Overview
Human activities, including those that are extractive, recreational, and management in nature, overlay and link the biophysical and human dimensions of the California Current marine ecosystem. Such activities generate benefits for humans, but they also affect the natural environment and are often deemed "pressures."
Recent efforts have focused on determining the temporal and spatial scale of these human pressures on the ecosystem to anticipate future trends and make better management decisions.
Indicator Status and Trends
Indicators were developed for a number of human activities that represent pressures to the California Current ecosystem. These included fisheries and non-fisheries related activities, which range in scope from land-based pressures such as inorganic pollution and nutrient input, to at-sea pressures such as fisheries removals, commercial shipping, and offshore oil and gas activities.