Cruise Report : Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS), NOAA Ship Pisces Cruise PC-11-02, 17 - 28 May 2011

The NOAA Ship Pisces departed Mayport Naval Station, FL, on 17 May 2011 at 1530 to initiate the Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS) in continental shelf and shelf-break waters off the southeastern US. SEFIS was created by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2010 and operates out of the Beaufort Laboratory. This survey was originated to conduct applied fishery-independent sampling and related research focusing on the assessment of spatial variability in distribution and abundance of red snapper and other reef species within the snapper-grouper complex, via data collected from fish traps, video cameras, and acoustics. During this survey,chevron trap catches and associated underwater video recordings were collected from known hardbottom habitats between 29.94235 N and 27.38068 N. A total of 130 stations were sampled over 12 sea days between 18.86 and 62.08 m depths.

Cruise PC-11-02 Objectives

1. Increase the spatial footprint and sample size of fishery-independent sampling in US southeast waters. Baited chevron traps, with one or more mounted high-definition video cameras, were utilized for

(a) hardbottom reef fish community assessments,

(b) collection of reef fish for biological samples (i.e.,otoliths and gonads), and

(c) comparative gear sampling (cameras versus traps versus split-beam sonar).

2. Use video cameras on chevron traps to address trap selectivity issues, locate and describe hardbottom habitats, and provide an additional index of abundance for stock assessments.

3. Survey reef fish assemblages and identify substrate types using a deep-water ROV equipped with instrumentation including low-light digital video and DIDSON sonar.

4. Use a CTD instrument package to collect environmental data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) at camera-trap sampling locations.

5. Map bottom habitats using multibeam sonar to improve survey design and to expand knowledge of hardbottom habitats in the southeast US.

6. Use fisheries acoustic gear (split-beam sonar) to assess its use as a fishery-independent survey too

Cruise Report : Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey (SEFIS), NOAA Ship Pisces Cruise PC-11-02, 17 - 28 May 2011

Personal Author(s) : Bacheler, Nate

Corporate Authors(s) : Southeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.)

Published Date : 2023

DOI : https://doi.org/10.25923/pq6g-qs18