Benthic Features as a Determinant for Fish Biomass in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Abstract

A recent focus of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries Program is the characterization and assessment of marine resources associated with coral reef and live bottom habitats in protected areas. Detailed bottom maps have been produced making it possible to quantify bottom features within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia, USA. Hydroacoustic fisheries surveys were used to estimate fish biomass in the context of underlying features and bottom types by applying spatial techniques and regression analysis. Variables relating bottom features to estimated fish biomass differed based upon depth in the water column. Distance to rock ledges was the best predictor of fish biomass in the bottom 2 m of the water column, whereas the area of two bottom habitat types combined was a reliable predictor of estimated fish biomass in the mid water column.

Keywords:

• Underwater acoustics
• Gray's Reef NMS
• benthic habitats
• GIS

Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided through NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR Project 04E00065. Support for the fisheries acoustics survey was provided by Keith Golden, Sara Fangman, and Scott Fowler onboard the Sam Gray RV. Assistance in reviewing this document was provided by Len Balthis, Emily Cooper, JD Dubick, and Stephen Roth, as well as several anonymous reviewers.

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