Roberson, K., Viehman, S., Clark, R.

Development of benthic and fish monitoring protocols for the Atlantic/Caribbean Biological Team: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program

2014

Silver Spring, MD

NOAA NOS National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)

48

"Approach and implementation: A benthic working group of NCRMP partners was formed in 2013 to draft field protocols based on the recommendations to NCRMP from the benthic workshop (June 5-6, 2012). Early draft protocols were field-tested at Broad Key in April, 2013. At this time, extensive discussions were held to improve and increase the efficiency of the approach. Additionally, methods and allocations were based on single stage survey designs; these are utilized in Puerto Rico, USVI, and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). Survey methods in Florida and the Dry Tortugas have historically used a two stage sampling design. All protocols were implemented in 2013 field sampling for the USVI (July) and FGBNMS (September). It is anticipated that few changes will be made for the implementation in Puerto Rico in 2014."

National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP); Biological monitoring

FY2013 CRCP Project ID 743; Project Title: National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) Implementation (Biological monitoring); Principal Investigator: Jessica Morgan