Ruttenberg, B., Bohnsack, J., Ault, J., Smith, S.

Assess and monitor coral reef MPAs: Summary of FY2011 activities

2011

NOAA SEFSC UM-RSMAS

"The FY11 goals of this project were to continue long-term monitoring efforts of coral reef fish and habitat in the FL Keys and the Dry Tortugas region. Results are used to (1) assess the effects of marine reserves and other management zones in the FL Keys and Tortugas regions, and (2) improve understanding of ecosystem dynamics and guide ecosystem management, including the maintenance of sustainable fisheries. Sampling uses non-destructive visual assessments based on a stationary-diver technique deployed in a two-stage, stratified random sampling design. Sampling in the FL Keys has occurred since 1979. Beginning in FY08, the State of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and the National Park Service (NPS) agreed to perform cooperative sampling and subsequent data sharing with NOAA SEFSC, and this collaboration began in earnest in FY09. Sampling in the Dry Tortugas region occurred irregularly from 1994-1999, and has occurred every two years since 2000. However, a no-take marine reserve was implemented in Dry Tortugas National Park in early 2007, with an agreement to evaluate its effectiveness in 5 years. Sampling for FY11 began in May, and included 410 sites and over 1544 research dives in the Florida Keys and Biscayne National Park, and 224 sites and 888 research dives in the Dry Tortugas Region. Staff from NOAA SEFSC, NPS, FWRI, UM-RSMAS, NOVA and FIU participated in field research efforts. All data have been entered and passed through the initial quality assurance/quality control procedures, and we are in the final stages of QA/QC procedures. We anticipate distributing FY11 data to all partners by April, and we will use FY11 data to generate sampling points for FY12 surveys by late April or early May 2012."

FY2011 CRCP Project ID 1064; Project Title: F180 Assess and Monitor Coral Reef MPAs; Principal Investigator: Benjamin Ruttenburg