National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef fish communities in the Florida Reef Tract

Coral reef fish survey data provided in this collection are from three (3) distinct regions along the Florida reef tract; 1) Dry Tortugas, 2) Florida Keys from Key West north to Miami and 3) Miami north to Martin County. These data are collected using a 2-stage, stratified random survey design. The stationary point count method (7.5m radius cylinder) is used to conduct fish surveys in Florida as part of the ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). This method collects and reports information on species composition, density, size structure, abundance and derived metrics (e.g., species richness, diversity). Lead agencies involved include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries) and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).

To provide continued reef fish and habitat monitoring in Florida's coral reef tract; to assess population and habitat trends, fish-habitat associations; and to assess ecosystem responses to natural events (e.g. hurricanes), management measures and anthropogenic impacts. To examine the effectiveness of marine reserves and other management strategies in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS Sanctuary Preservation Areas SPAs, Tortugas Ecological Reserves TERs and Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area RNA) as a part of the ongoing long-term monitoring effort of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

Cite as: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (2018). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef fish communities in the Florida Reef Tract. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v52n50ks. Accessed [date]