Social–ecological system responses to Hurricane Sandy in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary

The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the Hudson-Raritan estuary (HRE) provided a valuable case study for exploring interactions between long-term environmental degradation, new climatic disturbance stressors, and human behavioral responses. We extend previous research on the ecological effects of major storms to compare water quality and biological parameters three years before and three years after Hurricane Sandy and consider how ecosystem shifts relate to anglers’ perceptions. Results indicate that water clarity and nutrients returned to pre-storm conditions in about one year, while shifts in the biological community, including a significant increase in harmful algal species and declines in zooplankton and Atlantic menhaden, persisted for multiple years, and anglers continued to fish amidst ecosystem decline. Biotic recovery time in the HRE was longer than reports for other shallow estuaries frequently disturbed by hurricanes. Ecological and social responses suggest that the post-storm regime shifts and continued fishing pressure could further environmental degradation.