Cruise report: Larval Bluefin Tuna Ecology Survey (2016) NOAA SHIP Nancy Foster (NF-16-02 and NF-16-03) (US Department of State Cruise ID: F2015-092) 28 April 2016 through 25 Ju...

CRUISE REPORT

NOAA CRUISE ID: NF-16-02 and NF-16-03

US STATE DEPARTMENT CRUISE ID: F2015-092

SHIP NAME: NOAA Ship Nancy Foster

OPERATING AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

PROJECT TITLE: Coral Reef Ecosystem Research / Reef Fish Resources

CRUISE DATES: 28 April 2016 - 25 June 2016

CHIEF SCIENTIST:

John Lamkin

NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC

75 Virginia Beach Drive

Miami, FL 33149 USA

305-361-4226

CLEARANCE COUNTRIES:

Cuba

Mexico

PORT OF EMBARKATION: San Juan, Puerto Rico

PORT OF DISEMBARKATION: Charleston, South Carolina

Identifying the relationships between ABT larvae and physical oceanographic gradients will greatly enhance current understanding of the early life history dynamics of this species. This work will also provide useful information on larval bluefin abundance and distribution for the entire Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean. We anticipate that this work will reduce the variance in the calculation of the ABT larval index, which should lead to improved stock

assessments across the region. During FOCUS A of our 2016 research survey aboard NF, we continued our study of the distribution and abundance of ABT and other tuna larvae in the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Sea. The 2016 survey builds upon the data collected from our 2015 expedition to Cuba and Mexico by applying adaptive sampling methods in both predicted larval ABT and other tuna habitats, as well as in areas that are key to understanding larval transport and retention across the region. The collected data will help to further develop a larval habitat model for ABT, reduce the variance in the calculation of the ABT larval index (which will improve regional stock assessments), and increase our knowledge of the role that ocean circulation

features play in maintaining regional ABT stocks and the associated trophic ecology.

In addition to pelagic tuna larvae, the 2016 survey also targeted other ecologically and commercially important larval species found near regional coastal reefs. These species included larval snapper, grouper, parrotfish, lionfish, and spiny lobster, and were sampled concurrently during the search for ABT larvae. Understanding population connectivity across this portion of

the Intra-Americas Sea (IAS) and the role that the major current system is portion of the Intra-Americas Sea (IAS) and the role that the major current systems play in the dispersal/retention of these species is critical for developing adaptive management strategies for regional Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Our collection strategy serves to help identify possible spawning locations, examine growth and survival of larvae, and increase our understanding of species recruitment to benthic habitats. In this light, additional information should also be gained from a high-resolution multi-beam bathymetric survey of Cuba’s Banco de San Antonio conducted during the research cruise.

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Grammanik Bank, located to the south of St. Thomas, is the site of a multi-species spawning aggregation for economically important fish including yellowfin grouper, Nassau grouper, tiger grouper, and dog snapper. Fishing pressure at this suspected source of larval recruits prompted the US Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) in 2005 to close the bank yearly from February to April. A series of banks south of the USVI (St. Thomas and St. John) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) provide similar habitats and spawning aggregation sites. Prior to the inception of this study, the biological and physical processes which drive production on these banks, the circulation connecting these banks, and the flows across these banks had not been quantified. As the 2005 management decisions were made in the absence of these data, regional Marine Protected Area (MPA) designations and temporary closures are presently based on professional judgment rather than quantifiable, defensible scientific information. In addition, meeting new annual catch limit (ACL) requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization has become a priority of the CFMC. However, data limitations preclude comprehensive stock assessments for most fisheries in the region.

This report is also available in Spanish .

It seems that the reason why what is essentially the same cruise report has two different Department of State Cruise Numbers is that Ryan Smith of AOML was responsible for reporting results to all countries except Cuba and Mexico, while John Lamkin of SEFSC was responsible for reporting results to Cuba and Mexico

Title : Cruise report: Larval Bluefin Tuna Ecology Survey (2016) NOAA SHIP Nancy Foster (NF-16-02 and NF-16-03) (US Department of State Cruise ID: F2015-092) 28 April 2016 through 25 June 2016

Personal Author(s) : Lamkin, John

Corporate Authors(s) : United States. National Marine Fisheries Service.;Southeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.);

Published Date : 2016

Series : NF-16-02;NF-16-03;

URL : https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/46635