Reef Visual Census (RVC) Fish Survey Protocol for the Atlantic Region: US Caribbean, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico: 2018

The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) is a broad-spatial snapshot for reef condition (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition) to provide context for local-scale studies of tropical reef ecosystems. Data collection will occur at stratified random sites where the sampling domain for each region (e.g., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), Flower Garden Banks (FGB) and Florida) is partitioned by habitat type and depth, sub-regional location (e.g., along-shelf position) and management zone. NCRMP will provide broader geographic context to supplement local monitoring efforts and studies of tropical reef ecosystems.

NCRMP fish surveys conducted in the Pacific and Florida regions are conducted using the Reef Visual Census (RVC) point count method (Brandt et al., 2009) while the US Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico region (Puerto Rico, USVI, FGB) have traditionally used the belt transect method. To standardize fish data collection methods and for comparison purposes, all jurisdictions will be using the RVC method for conducting fish surveys beginning in 2016. The 2017 RVC protocols for USVI had substantial differences than previous versions (years) as a result of NCRMP standardization throughout the project's regions (e.g. Florida and Pacific regions). Specific differences in methodologies between regions, where applicable, are noted within the protocols. This protocol will describe fish surveys conducted in the U.S. reefs in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida for 2018.

The goal of the fish community surveys is to collect and report information on species composition, density, size, abundance, and derived metrics (e.g., species richness, diversity) using the RVC method in a stratified random sampling design on hardbottom and coral reef habitats in the U.S. coral reef jurisdictions. While all jurisdictions will use the RVC method, light adjustments must be made in order to account for regional implementation nuances. This protocol may be refined in subsequent years.