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Original Articles

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

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Pages 267-280 | Received 06 May 2008, Accepted 04 Sep 2008, Published online: 04 Dec 2008
 

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.

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.

NOAA disclaimer: This publication does not constitute an endorsement of any commercial product or intend to be an opinion beyond scientific or other results obtained by the NOAA. No reference shall be made to NOAA, or this publication furnished by NOAA, to any advertising or sales promotion which would indicate or imply that NOAA recommends or endorses any proprietary product mentioned herein, or which has as its purpose an interest to cause the advertised product to be used or purchased because of this publication.

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