January 15, 2026 — Researchers studying ecosystem dynamics in Pacific albacore and bluefin tuna documented by movement of fishing fleets during heat waves say the data can also be used to understand ecosystem health.
“Fishermen are increasingly recognized as top predators and have many of the qualities of effective ecosystem sentinel, ” said Heather Welch, an associate project scientist at the University of California Santa Cruz, who led the study. These fleets serve as apex predators, effectively locating their prey.
The study summary discusses the ecological impact of Northeast Pacific marine heatwaves between 2010 and 2024 primarily off Oregon and Washington, mainly within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, but also on the high seas. The study examined one million satellite-based locations of 600 U.S. fishing vessels to determine whether such predator geolocation data could help assess the ecological impact of Northeast Pacific marine heatwaves during that period.