Reef Fish Research

Florida Keys reef fish monitoring

Annual scuba-based surveys of the coral reef fish communities in the Florida Keys, using a sophisticated habitat-stratified sampling design of the coral reef fish community and associated habitat along the FL Keys coral reef tract. This project has been ongoing since 1980 and now includes ~350 sites annually.
Cooperating Institutions:
- University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- National Park Service
Management relevance
Information generated from this project is used in stock assessments for reef-associated species (e.g., yellowtail snapper), ongoing evaluation effectiveness of marine reserves in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and assessment of changes in fish communities over the past 30 years.

Dry Tortugas region reef fish monitoring

Biennial scuba-based, habitat-stratified surveys of the coral reef fish community and associated habitats in the Dry Tortugas (FL) region
Cooperating Institutions:
- University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- National Park Service
Management relevance
Information generated from this project has guided the establishment of no-take marine reserves in the Dry Tortugas waters managed by both the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the National Park Service. Project data are used in ongoing assessments of marine reserve effectiveness, stock assessments for reef-associated species (e.g., red grouper), and assessment of fish community response to other management measures and natural impacts (e.g., response of reef fish community to hurricane impacts).

Grouper habitat utilization

Description Investigation of grouper habitat utilization and seasonal movement patterns using three approaches
1. field studies utilizing acoustic telemetry
2. interviews with commercial fishers throughout the FL Keys
3. analysis of multiple long-term data sets generated from other studies or monitoring efforts
Cooperating Institutions
- University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (V. Koch and D. Die)
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- National Park Service (via provision of data sets)
Management relevance
Information generated from this project will improve our knowledge of essential fish habitat for black and red grouper, which will improve survey design for grouper population assessments and improve our ability to sustainably manage grouper fisheries.

Acoustic assessment of reef fish habitat

This project involves the assessment of an acoustic mapping tool to assess and classify coral reef habitat, and comparison of the utility of that tool with other acoustic mapping techniques. Habitat data will be utilized in conjunction with diver-assessed reef fish data (predominantly grouper) to assess fish-habitat correlations.
Cooperating Institution
- University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Management relevance
Considerable portions of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have not been mapped with sufficient detail to distinguish hardbottom from sediment habitat. These unmapped areas typically are beyond depths that can be mapped using aerial photogrammetry or satellite imagery. Acoustic technologies are a promising method for habitat assessment in deeper waters. Improving habitat assessments will improve our ability to assess essential fish habitat for coral reef fish, and thus guide the sustainable management and conservation of these species.

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