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Physical Location
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Summary

Description

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed implementation of eight marine protected areas (MPAs) between Cape Hatteras, NC and the Florida Keys to protect seven species of grouper and tilefish, all members of the deepwater snapper-grouper complex. During 2008, the NOAA Fisheries Laboratory in Panama City, FL completed the fourth annual survey of five of the proposed MPA sites with three main objectives: 1) establish pre-closure estimates of species composition and fish abundance, especially for species of grouper and tilefish; 2) describe habitat features; and 3) document the relationship between habitat and species assemblages. Gear employed during the surveys included a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and a stationary video camera array. Four of the seven targeted reef fish including snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus), speckled hind (E. drummundhayi), warsaw grouper (E. nigritus), and blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) were observed in 2008. Relative fish abundances varied between proposed MPAs. None of the target species had the highest abundance of fishes observed; however other species of the snapper/grouper complex such as vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens), tomtates (Haemulon aurolineatum), striped grunts (Haemulon striatum), and amberjack (Seriola spp.) were among those most frequently observed. Lionfish (Pterois volitans) densities were exponentially higher in the 2007 and 2008 surveys compared to the 2004 and 2006 surveys. Lionfish also showed comparable densities to the most abundant grouper, scamp (Mycteroperca phenax). As expected, lionfish and grouper densities increased with increasing habitat complexity. This study presents a unique opportunity to examine proposed MPA sites before implementation of fishing restrictions, thus providing fishery managers with robust pre-closure data upon which efficacy evaluations of closures can be made.

Document Information

Document Type
Report

Document Format
Acrobat Portable Document Format

Publication Date
2009-02-01

Contact Information

Metadata Contact
Andrew David
andy.david@noaa.gov
850-234-6541 x208

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-82.08333333333° W, -79.96666666667° E, 26.26666666667° N, 24.46666666667° S

Gulf Of Mexico And South Atlantic Ocean

Time Frame 1
2008-07-18 - 2008-07-24 17+0000

18 and 24 July 2008

Item Identification

Title: South Atlantic MPA: year 4 of a pre-closure evaluation of habitat and fish assemblages in five proposed reserves.
Status: Completed
Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Abstract:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed implementation of eight marine protected areas (MPAs) between Cape Hatteras, NC and the Florida Keys to protect seven species of grouper and tilefish, all members of the deepwater snapper-grouper complex. During 2008, the NOAA Fisheries Laboratory in Panama City, FL completed the fourth annual survey of five of the proposed MPA sites with three main objectives: 1) establish pre-closure estimates of species composition and fish abundance, especially for species of grouper and tilefish; 2) describe habitat features; and 3) document the relationship between habitat and species assemblages. Gear employed during the surveys included a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and a stationary video camera array. Four of the seven targeted reef fish including snowy grouper (Epinephelus niveatus), speckled hind (E. drummundhayi), warsaw grouper (E. nigritus), and blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) were observed in 2008. Relative fish abundances varied between proposed MPAs. None of the target species had the highest abundance of fishes observed; however other species of the snapper/grouper complex such as vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens), tomtates (Haemulon aurolineatum), striped grunts (Haemulon striatum), and amberjack (Seriola spp.) were among those most frequently observed. Lionfish (Pterois volitans) densities were exponentially higher in the 2007 and 2008 surveys compared to the 2004 and 2006 surveys. Lionfish also showed comparable densities to the most abundant grouper, scamp (Mycteroperca phenax). As expected, lionfish and grouper densities increased with increasing habitat complexity. This study presents a unique opportunity to examine proposed MPA sites before implementation of fishing restrictions, thus providing fishery managers with robust pre-closure data upon which efficacy evaluations of closures can be made.

Purpose:

1) to establish pre-closure estimates of species composition and fish abundance, especially for species of grouper and tilefish.

2) To describe habitat features;

3) document the relationship between habitat and species assemblages.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NOAA Fisheries Glossary invasive species
None CTD Data
None deep reef habitat and fishes
None FINSS
None lionfish
None ROV Data
None RV Pisces

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None 1990-present

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Florida
None Georgia
None North Carolina
None South Carolina

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
NOAA Fisheries Glossary species

Physical Location

Organization: Panama City Laboratory
City: Panama City
State/Province: FL

Document Information

Document Type: Report
Format: Acrobat Portable Document Format
Status Code: Final

Support Roles

Author

CC ID: 820867
Date Effective From: 2009
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): David, Andrew
Address: 3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32408
Email Address: andy.david@noaa.gov
Phone: 850-234-6541 x208
Fax: 850-235-3559
Contact Instructions:

Phone or email

Author

CC ID: 820869
Date Effective From: 2009
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Harter, Stacey
Address: 3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32408
Email Address: Stacey.Harter@noaa.govs
Phone: 850-234-6541
Fax: 850.235.3559
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 820870
Date Effective From: 2009
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): David, Andrew
Address: 3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32408
Email Address: andy.david@noaa.gov
Phone: 850-234-6541 x208
Fax: 850-235-3559
Contact Instructions:

Contact by email preferred.

Extents

Currentness Reference: Ground Condition

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 820865
W° Bound: -82.08333333333
E° Bound: -79.96666666667
N° Bound: 26.26666666667
S° Bound: 24.46666666667
Description

Gulf Of Mexico And South Atlantic Ocean

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 820864
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2008-07-18
End: 2008-07-24 17+0000
Description:

18 and 24 July 2008

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Procedure:

Open to everytone

Data Access Constraints:

Download from specified link

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 820871
URL: https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/project/1693/south_atlantic_mpa_year4_preclosure_eval.pdf
Name: South Atlantic marine protected areas: year four of a pre-closure evaluation of habitat and fish assemblages in five proposed reserves.
URL Type:
Online Resource
Description:

Report itself

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 55530
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:55530
Metadata Record Created By: Lee M Weinberger
Metadata Record Created: 2019-02-14 09:02+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-08-09 17:11+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2022-02-28
Owner Org: SEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2022-02-28
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2023-02-28