History

The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the Pacific sardine collapse off California. Since then, CalCOFI’s focus has broadened to encompass the ecosystem of the southern California Current System, while adapting to capitalize on state-of-the-art observing methods. Because of the length of the time series, the program is invaluable for understanding the effects of long-term change on the marine ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them within the California Current System, the North Pacific, and internationally.

References Describing CalCOFI's History

The origin of CalCOFI through the decline of the Pacific sardine fishery

Created in the 1920s, the sardine fishery hit its peak in the 1930’s and the Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) quickly became the largest fishery on the North American Pacific coast. However, within a decade the fishery collapsed and all but disappeared from 1950-1970. The 1980’s saw the beginning of a slow recovery and the fishery has been gradually improving, for the most part, until recent declines after 2006.  There have been several longstanding arguments as to the main source of the fishery’s initial collapse; the two most prominent being over fishing and changes in the environment. In an era that saw the vast downfall of the stock, the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program was created to determine the true cause of sardine stock fluctuations. 

In 1931, Norman Scofield predicted the potential collapse of the sardine fishery and recommended an annual catch limit of 200,000 tons per year. This sentiment was reiterated in 1939 by Frances Clark, who recommended the catch limit of 250,000 tons per year. Despite these recommendations, sardine landings peaked in the years of 1936-1937 at 791,334 tons. Of this catch, 726,124 tons were landed in California while the remaining was landed in the Pacific Northwest. By 1943-1944, overall landings declined to 579,129 tons, although landings for the Pacific Northwest peaked at 101,000 tons. The 1950s saw a significant and steady decline of sardine landings on the Pacific coast, reaching only 80,000 tons in the years 1954-1956. By 1965-1967, landings only comprised 20,000 tons. 

The United States’ entry into WWII allowed for an expansion of naval and military research and led to greater research spending at institutions on the United States’ west coast. One of the primary recipients was the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with growth in new programs such as sonar, naval electronic, wave and current studies, and microbiology. Despite this initial surge in research, the long term effects of war on the fisheries industry were less constructive. Over time, emphasis was placed on maximizing fisheries output over conservation and sustainability. Nevertheless, by 1950, focus once again shifted back to conservation and fisheries research. The creation of the CalCOFI program played a strong role during this period and the next two decades saw a dramatic increase and expansion of oceanographic knowledge and sampling capacity.  

One of the main programs of the initial research spending was a group of investigations created to determine the cause of fluctuations in the sardine fishery. Former member of the Bureau of Fisheries, Oscar Elton Sette, took the lead as scientific adviser to the California Cooperative Sardine Research program. This program lasted from 1937-1949 and would later develop into present day CalCOFI.  The original Marine Research committee was composed of nine members, with the majority actively involved in the industry and the remaining four from the California Fish and Game Commission, the Division of Fish and Game, and the California Academy of Sciences. Over the following decades, positions were granted to serve a greater range of representatives from the state, public and science sectors. What remained of the original Marine Research Committee was dissolved in the late 1970’s, and in its place remained the modern CalCOFI committee of three institutional representatives: NOAA, Scripps, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

The California Cooperative Sardine Research investigations focused on how sardine were affected by numerous factors: including environment, food supply, predators and competitors. The findings of these field studies from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s are now known as the CalCOFI Reports and are indexed under the title California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Reports. Over time, the members of CalCOFI developed competing hypotheses for the fluctuation in the sardine stock: that the dwindling of fish stock was either the result of unfavorable environmental conditions or the result of overfishing. Initially environmental conditions were deemed to be the primary cause of the sardine stock decline; however, over time the survey observations showed that fishing pressure also had a definitive effect on the stock.  

As scientific advisor, Oscar Sette had a direct influence on the focus of the California Cooperative Sardine Research program. Sette was a student of Henry Bryant Bigelow, who in turn was strongly influenced by Johan Hjort. Hjort was a prime proponent of the argument for environmental influence on the year class strength of fishes, primarily that displacement from a favorable environment would influence greater mortality. This hypothesis would strongly influence the directive of CalCOFI through proponents such as John Marr from USBCF and was largely maintained over the next decades. Nevertheless, by 1955, the hypothesis of overfishing became equally popular within the research community through advocates such as Frances Clark from CDFG. In correspondence with these competing hypotheses, by the early 1960’s it became apparent that the sardine stocks were both suffering from spawning success through key disturbances in the environment in addition to being over-fished. A third hypothesis arose in the 1970’s and 1980’s in the form of a link between predation and recruitment success of small pelagic fishes such as anchovy and sardine. Mortality due to predation would influence recruitment success. Decades later, scientists’ current view partially integrates all three of these competing hypothesis; allowing that each provide different levels of influence at any one time but all contribute to the consistently fluctuating sardine biomass.  

Since its inception, the CalCOFI program has grown in their efforts to better the sampling effort and expand the volume of oceanographic knowledge. The causes of sardine stock fluctuations have been shown to be a number of influencing and interworking factors. The species focus has broadened from solely sardine to understanding fluctuations in both commercially exploited and unfished species. Today, the goal of CalCOFI has developed into an overall understanding of the fluctuations and long term changes of the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) and is continuously investigated and supplemented through a number of important ancillary, but shorter duration, programs. 

Progress Report 1950 (CalCOFI Report, Volume 1)

THE PROBLEM
In order to develop plans for the responsible management of the sardine resource and to attempt to derive workable methods of predicting where sardines will he found and in what quantities, it is imperative to know
certain underlying principles which govern the sardine’s behavior, availability, and total abundance. Work under the California Cooperative Sardine Research Program is aimed at determining those principles.

METHOD OF ATTACK
The four agencies participating in the program are investigating the Pacific sardine in relation to its physical and chemical environment, its food supply, its predators and its competitors, and attempting to evaluate the findings in terms of the survival of young and in terms of the distribution and availability of the sardines
when they reach commercial size.

RECENT FINDINGS
The 1950 cruises have confirmed the 1949 finding that there are at present two centers of heavy sardine spawning off our coast. The first is in the vicinity of Cedros Island, off Baja California, and is relatively restricted in area; the second is off Southern California and northern Baja California. It covers the larger area; within it, though, spawning is more diffuse than near Cedros Island.

During the spring of 1950, surface temperatures were lower than they were in 1949, which may indicate more intense upwelling during the season.

The cruises for 1949 and 19.50 have shown that most sardine spawning takes place within narrow temperature ranges. During the 1950 spawning season 98.4 percent of all sardine eggs sampled were taken in waters
between 12.5° and 16°C. (54.5° and 60.8°F.).

Under laboratory conditions, sardines have been shown to exhibit predictable behavior patterns in the presence of electrical fields. Larger-scale studies of this subject are planned.

Length and age studies of the commercial catch show that during both the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons the major support of the fishery came from the 1946 and 1947 year classes. There are no indications as yet that the 1948 and 1949 year classes will appear at the fishing grounds in exceptional numbers. It is still too early to attempt to assess the 1950 year class. The 1946 and 1947 groups will presumably have to supply much of the tonnage taken in the next two or three years.

Studies of the mechanism of upwelling, a factor that may be of great importance in the sardine problem, have shown that spring and summer upwelling of Cape Mendocino and Point Conception can be correlated with weather conditions.

The first two full years of work under the program have brought the development of important new instruments for oceanographic research, the accumulation and partial analysis of a great mass of data on the offshore waters, the development and refinement of the techniques of collecting and processing the data.

PLANS FOR 1951
In the main, work under the California Cooperative Sardine Research Program will continue along the present lines during 1951. The seagoing work cannot as yet be curtailed or simplified without running the risk of failing to obtain information of basic importance. Any changes will be those dictated by the necessity of
studying changing oceanographic and biological conditions. Both at sea and ashore, several new studies that promise to enlarge our understanding of the Pacific sardine will be pursued.

See Volume 1, and other CalCOFI Reports, for historical figures and information

Photo: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego

Historical Station Pattern

Currently, the program conducts quarterly cruises to collect hydrographic and biological data from the 75 station pattern and the 113 station pattern. See the original station pattern (below) that was used in 1950.

Original 1950 Cruise Pattern

Survey Coverage 1937 - Present

Visual representation of temporal and spatial sampling coverage of CalCOFI cruises

CalCOFI cruises typically take place four times a year, but when CalCOFI first started, there were as many as 12 cruises a year. See our survey coverage figure below for temporal and spatial coverage of CalCOFI surveys conducted 1937 to present. 

Cruises from 1937 through 1987 are adapted from Hewitt, R.P. 1988 – Historical review of the oceanographic approach to fishery research (Vol XXIX on the CalCOFI Reports page). Cruises from 1988 to present are drawn from published CalCOFI data reports and recent unpublished data.

104 Station Pattern Map (Winter & Spring)    |    75 Station Pattern Map (Summer & Fall)

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

2020 2001RL: 104 stations           2007SR: 75 stations occupied     2010SR: 69 stations occupied     2020
2019   1902RL: 29 Stations   1904BH: 67 Stations     1907BH: 70 Stations       1911OC: 75 Stations   2019
2018   1802SH: 45 Stations Occupied   1804SH: 103 Stations Occupied   1806SR: 72 stations occupied       1810SR: 74 stations occupied     2018
2017 83 Stations Occupied     83 Stations Occupied       1708SR: 73 stations occupied     1711SR: 74 stations occupied   2017
2016 1601RL: 104 Stations Occupied     1604SH: 102 Stations Occupied     1607OS: 68 stations occupied       1611SR: 75 stations occupied; Inaugural Sally Ride CalCOFI   2016
2015 1501NH: 100 Stations Occupied     1504NH: 70 Stations Occupied     1507OC: 71 stations occupied       1511OC: 69 stations occupied   2015
2014

 

1402SH   1404OS: 70 stations occupied     1407NH: 74 stations occupied       1411NH: 75 stations occupied   2014
2013 1301SH: 90 Stations Occupied     1304SH: 109 Stations - 80 CTD, 29 Pairovet/Trawling stations on Line 70 & 67     1307NH: 75 stations occupied       1311NH: 81 stations occupied; 75 standard & 6 DIC   2013
2012   1202NH: 75 stations occupied 1203SH: 57 stations occupied       1207OS: 75 stations occupied      1210: 75 stations occupied     2012
2011  CalCOFI 1101NH: 106 stations occupied      CalCOFI 1104NH: 114 stations occupied        1108: 72 stations occupied    1110: 75 stations occupied     2011
2010                75 Station Pattern   2010

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

2009

 75 Stations Occupied

 

71 Stations Occupied

 

 

 

101 Station Pattern: 75 standard+Line 67 & 60

 

 

 

73 Stations Occupied

 

2009

2008

 84 Stations Occupied

 

 

80 Stations Occupied (to line 66)

 

 

 

 69 Stations Occupied

 

 73 Stations Occupied

 

 

2008

2007

84 Stations Occupied

 

 

78 Stations Occupied (to line 66)

 

 

73 Stations Occupied

 

 

 

67 Stations Occupied

 

2007

2006

 

81 Stations Occupied

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

2006

2005

1979-1987_700_11449

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

2005

2004

1979-1987_700_11446

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

1979-1987_700_11448

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11437

 

2004

2003

 

1979-1987_700_11442

 

1979-1987_700_11447

 

 

1979-1987_700_11444

 

 

1979-1987_700_11445

 

 

2003

2002

1979-1987_700_11438

 

 

1979-1987_700_11439

 

 

1979-1987_700_11440

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11441

 

2002

2001

1979-1987_700_0308

 

 

1979-1987_700_0320

 

 

1979-1987_700_11435

 

 

1979-1987_700_11436

 

 

2001

2000

1979-1987_700_0306

 

 

1979-1987_700_0307

 

 

1979-1987_700_11432

 

 

1979-1987_700_11433

 

 

2000

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

1999

1979-1987_700_0305

 

 

1979-1987_700_117

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11430

 

1979-1987_700_11431

 

 

1999

1998

 

1979-1987_700_11428 1979-1987_700_11302 1979-1987_700_0303 1979-1987_700_11303 1979-1987_700_11304 1979-1987_700_0304 1979-1987_700_11305 1979-1987_700_11429 1979-1987_700_11306 1979-1987_700_11307 1979-1987_700_11308

1998

1997

 

1979-1987_700_11425

 

1979-1987_700_11426

 

 

1979-1987_700_11427

 

1979-1987_700_116

 

 

 

1997

1996

 

1979-1987_700_11421

 

1979-1987_700_11422

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11423

 

1979-1987_700_11424

 

 

1996

1995

1979-1987_700_11418

 

 

1979-1987_700_115

 

 

1979-1987_700_11419

 

 

1979-1987_700_11420

 

 

1995

1994

1979-1987_700_11414

 

1979-1987_700_11415

 

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11416

 

1979-1987_700_11417

 

 

1994

1993

1979-1987_700_11410

 

 

1979-1987_700_11411

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11412

 

1979-1987_700_11413

 

 

1993

1992

 

1979-1987_700_11406

 

1979-1987_700_11407

 

 

1979-1987_700_11408

 

 

1979-1987_700_11409

 

 

1992

1991

1979-1987_700_8903

 

1979-1987_700_10804

 

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11404

 

1979-1987_700_11405

 

 

1991

1990

 

 

1979-1987_700_11402 1979-1987_700_10405

 

 

1979-1987_700_11402

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_11403

 

1990

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

1989

1979-1987_700_10405

 

 

1979-1987_700_10406

 

 

1979-1987_700_10202 1979-1987_700_113

 

 

1979-1987_700_10407

 

1989

1988

1979-1987_700_10402

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_10802

 

 

1979-1987_700_10403

 

1979-1987_700_10404

 

 

1988

1987

 

 

1979-1987_700_102

 

1979-1987_700_104

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_108

 

 

 

1987

1986

 

1979-1987_700_89 1979-1987_700_90

 

1979-1987_700_92

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_96

 

1979-1987_700_98

 

1986

1985

 

1979-1987_700_77

 

 

1979-1987_700_80

 

1979-1987_700_82 1979-1987_700_83

 

 

1979-1987_700_86

 

1985

1984

1979-1987_700_64 1979-1987_700_65

 

1979-1987_700_67 1979-1987_700_68 1979-1987_700_69 1979-1987_700_70

 

 

1979-1987_700_73

 

 

1984

1983

1979-1987_700_52 1979-1987_700_53 1979-1987_700_54 1979-1987_700_55 1979-1987_700_56 1979-1987_700_57 1979-1987_700_58 1979-1987_700_59 1979-1987_700_60 1979-1987_700_61 1979-1987_700_62 1979-1987_700_63

1983

1982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_47

 

 

 

 

1982

1981

1979-1987_700_2802 1979-1987_700_2902

 

1979-1987_700_3102 1979-1987_700_3202

 

1979-1987_700_3402

 

 

 

 

 

1981

1980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_2702

1980

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

1979

1979-1987_700_03

 

 

 

1979-1987_700_07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1979

1978

1966-1978_700_148

 

1966-1978_700_150 1966-1978_700_151 1966-1978_700_152

 

1966-1978_700_154 1966-1978_700_155

 

 

 

 

1978

1977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_147

1977

1976

1966-1978_700_124 1966-1978_700_125 1966-1978_700_126 1966-1978_700_127

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1976

1975

1966-1978_700_112

 

1966-1978_700_114

 

1966-1978_700_116 1966-1978_700_117

 

 

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_123

1975

1974

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_103

 

 

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_109

 

1966-1978_700_111

1974

1973

 

 

1966-1978_700_90

 

1966-1978_700_92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1973

1972

1966-1978_700_76 1966-1978_700_77 1966-1978_700_78

 

1966-1978_700_80

 

1966-1978_700_82

 

 

1966-1978_700_85

 

 

1972

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

1970 - 1971 No data

1969

1966-1978_700_40 1966-1978_700_41

 

1966-1978_700_43 1966-1978_700_44 1966-1978_700_45 1966-1978_700_46 1966-1978_700_47 1966-1978_700_48 1966-1978_700_49

 

1966-1978_700_51

1969

1968

1966-1978_700_2802

 

 

1966-1978_700_31

 

1966-1978_700_33

 

 

 

 

 

 

1968

1967

 

 

 

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_22 1966-1978_700_23

 

 

 

1966-1978_700_27

1967

1966

1966-1978_700_03 1966-1978_700_04

 

1966-1978_700_06 1966-1978_700_07 1966-1978_700_08 1966-1978_700_09 1966-1978_700_10 1966-1978_700_11 1966-1978_700_12 1966-1978_700_13 1966-1978_700_14

1966

1965

1961-1965_700_52

 

 

1961-1965_700_55 1961-1965_700_56

 

1961-1965_700_58

 

1961-1965_700_60

 

 

 

1965

1964

1961-1965_700_40

 

 

1961-1965_700_43

 

 

1961-1965_700_46

 

 

1961-1965_700_49

 

 

1964

1963

1961-1965_700_28

 

 

1961-1965_700_2802

 

1961-1965_700_33 1961-1965_700_34

 

1961-1965_700_36 1961-1965_700_37 1961-1965_700_38

 

1963

1962

1961-1965_700_16

 

 

1961-1965_700_19

 

 

1961-1965_700_22

 

 

1961-1965_700_25

 

1961-1965_700_27

1962

1961

1961-1965_700_03

 

1961-1965_700_05 1961-1965_700_06 1961-1965_700_07

 

1961-1965_700_09 1961-1965_700_10 1961-1965_700_11 1961-1965_700_12

 

 

1961

1960

1949-1960_700_136 1949-1960_700_137 1949-1960_700_138 1949-1960_700_139 1949-1960_700_140 1949-1960_700_141 1949-1960_700_142 1949-1960_700_143 1949-1960_700_144 1949-1960_700_145

 

 

1960

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Sept.

October

Nov.

Dec.

Year

1959

1949-1960_700_124 1949-1960_700_125 1949-1960_700_126 1949-1960_700_127 1949-1960_700_128 1949-1960_700_129 1949-1960_700_130 1949-1960_700_131 1949-1960_700_132 1949-1960_700_133 1949-1960_700_134 1949-1960_700_135

1959

1958

1949-1960_700_112 1949-1960_700_113 1949-1960_700_114 1949-1960_700_115 1949-1960_700_116 1949-1960_700_117 1949-1960_700_118 1949-1960_700_119 1949-1960_700_120 1949-1960_700_121 1949-1960_700_122 1949-1960_700_123

1958

1957

1949-1960_700_10002 1949-1960_700_101 1949-1960_700_102 1949-1960_700_103 1949-1960_700_104 1949-1960_700_105 1949-1960_700_106 1949-1960_700_107 1949-1960_700_108 1949-1960_700_109 1949-1960_700_110 1949-1960_700_111

1957

1956

1949-1960_700_88 1949-1960_700_89 1949-1960_700_90 1949-1960_700_91 1949-1960_700_92 1949-1960_700_93 1949-1960_700_94 1949-1960_700_95 1949-1960_700_96 1949-1960_700_97 1949-1960_700_98 1949-1960_700_99

1956

1955

1949-1960_700_76 1949-1960_700_77 1949-1960_700_78 1949-1960_700_79 1949-1960_700_80 1949-1960_700_81 1949-1960_700_82 1949-1960_700_83 1949-1960_700_84 1949-1960_700_85 1949-1960_700_86 1949-1960_700_87

1955

1954

1949-1960_700_64 1949-1960_700_65 1949-1960_700_66 1949-1960_700_67 1949-1960_700_68 1949-1960_700_69 1949-1960_700_70 1949-1960_700_71 1949-1960_700_72 1949-1960_700_73 1949-1960_700_74 1949-1960_700_75

1954

1953

1949-1960_700_52 1949-1960_700_53 1949-1960_700_54 1949-1960_700_55 1949-1960_700_56 1949-1960_700_57 1949-1960_700_58 1949-1960_700_59 1949-1960_700_60 1949-1960_700_61 1949-1960_700_62 1949-1960_700_63

1953

1952

1949-1960_700_40 1949-1960_700_41 1949-1960_700_42 1949-1960_700_43 1949-1960_700_44 1949-1960_700_45 1949-1960_700_46 1949-1960_700_47 1949-1960_700_48 1949-1960_700_49 1949-1960_700_50

 

1952

1951

1949-1960_700_28 1949-1960_700_29 1949-1960_700_30 1949-1960_700_31 1949-1960_700_32 1949-1960_700_33 1949-1960_700_34 1949-1960_700_35 1949-1960_700_36 1949-1960_700_37 1949-1960_700_38 1949-1960_700_39

1951

1950

1949-1960_700_16 1949-1960_700_17 1949-1960_700_18 1949-1960_700_19 1949-1960_700_20 1949-1960_700_21 1949-1960_700_22 1949-1960_700_23 1949-1960_700_24 1949-1960_700_25 1949-1960_700_26

 

1950

1949

 

 

1949-1960_700_05 1949-1960_700_06 1949-1960_700_07 1949-1960_700_08 1949-1960_700_09 1949-1960_700_10 1949-1960_700_11 1949-1960_700_12 1949-1960_700_1102

 

1949

 1942 - 1948 No data

1941

 

 

1937-1941_700_54 1937-1941_700_55 1937-1941_700_56 1937-1941_700_57 1937-1941_700_58 1937-1941_700_59 1937-1941_700_60 1937-1941_700_61 1937-1941_700_62

 

1941

1940

 

 

1937-1941_700_4202 1937-1941_700_4302 1937-1941_700_44 1937-1941_700_45

 

 

 

 

 

 

1940

1939

 

 

1937-1941_700_30

 

 

1937-1941_700_33

 

 

 

 

 

 

1939

1938

 

1937-1941_700_17

 

1937-1941_700_1702

 

1937-1941_700_1703

 

1937-1941_700_23

 

1937-1941_700_2302

 

1937-1941_700_1704

1938

1937

 

 

1937-1941_700_0502

 

1937-1941_700_07 1937-1941_700_08

 

 

 

 

 

 

1937