Scharer, M., Hill, R. L.

Passive acoustic monitoring of fish spawning aggregations in Puerto Rico

2014

10

Progress Report, October 2013 - September 2014

"Large predators are important in healthy coral reef ecosystems. However, many populations of these species are depleted on the insular shelves of the U.S. Caribbean. Commercially important species, e.g., large groupers, that gather annually to spawn, are highly susceptible to overfishing, and managers need better data on aggregation locations and dynamics. This project, in partnership with the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez (UPRM) and the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute (CCRI), is supporting continued use of passive acoustic methods off western Puerto Rico, to locate, assess, and monitor reef fish spawning aggregations (FSAs). Over the next three years, we will also apply these research techniques in the NE Reserves of Puerto Rico, confirming spawning locations, species, aggregation timing, and species abundances."

FY2014 CRCP Project ID 878, Product 1381; Project Title: Defining Spawning Dynamics to Manage and Conserve Reef Fish Populations; Principal Investigator: Ron Hill