Two new monitoring approaches: (i) 'Resource-Fish' surveys (targeting the large and mobile fishes which are primary targets of recreational and commercial food fisheries); and (ii) 'Benthic Characterization' (intended to be a medium-large scale survey approach capable of relatively easily generating benthic information suitable for improved understanding of fish distribution and community structure, and for detecting gross change in benthos) were developed and field trialed at sites in West Hawaii.
Extended fish trials of an 'integrated monitoring' approach, comprising both existing small-scale and the newly developed medium-large scale approaches were conducted at 14 sites in West Hawaii (Big Island) (each site surveyed 4 times for fish, once for 'Benthic Characterization'). Additionally, 'Resource-Fish' surveys using the newly developed methodology were conducted at 39 sites in Maui, and data from those surveys compared with an alternative approach focusing on the same fish groups which had been previously utilized at Maui sites (but not elsewhere in the state). 'Benthic Characterization' surveys were conducted at 14 sites in West Hawaii.
This dataset includes only the 'Resource-Fish' surveys. The 'Benthic Characterization' sets will be provided to the NOAA posterity archive at a later date.
Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative, Division of Aquatic Resources, Division of Lands and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii
The chief objective of the program was to develop a comprehensive and integrated coral reef monitoring program for the Main Hawaii Islands, based on a common toolkit of robust and efficient methods.
Divers work in pairs, starting from a fixed central point in the survey site (e.g. central pins of WHAP H formation). Divers swim outward from the starting point following the depth contour and remaining where possible within a contiguous stretch of habitat. Divers should aim to move steadily, and adjust their own speeds to prevailing currents so that total distance covered is around 120-150m per 5-minute survey. In West Hawaii, most survey sites are aligned roughly N-S, so one pair of divers swim approximately north and one pair south. Each diver records the size and number of 'resource fishes'with total length larger than 15cm within a 5m-wide swathe centered on themselves. One diver in each pair will either tow a surface float with a tracking GPS, or deploy a buoy at the end of the swim, so that distance covered per survey can also be calculated (and therefore counts can be analyzed on a per-time or per-distance basis). Data from a pair of divers will always be pooled prior to analysis and therefore, divers should strive not to double count fishes (e.g. a fish moving across the field of vision of both divers should only be counted one of the pair, normally the diver from which side the fish started). Fish sizes are to be recorded in 5cm-slot size categories: D equals 15-20 cm; E equals 20-25 cm; and fishes larger than 25cm recorded to nearest 5 cm.
In West Hawaii, transects are laid out in an H pattern and are labeled from A to D: transects A and C run parallel,
approximately 10m apart and heading northwards from the central pin following the depth contour. B and D transects
are also 10m apart and parallel, but run southwards. Mid-depth of each site is around 40ft.
Person who carried out this activity:
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NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data,expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA, NESDIS, NODC and NCDDC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
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