This data set contains catch (landed catch) and effort for fishing trips made by vessels fishing in St. Croix. The catch and effort data for the entire trip are reported on a single form (i.e., one form per trip). The types of information required on this trip form includes information on the quantity (reported in pounds) caught for each species, the area of catch, the type and quantity of gear, the date of departure and return, the dealer and location (county and state where the trip is unloaded), the duration of the trip (time away from dock), an estimate of the fishing time, and the number of crew are included on this form.

This data set contains catch (landed catch) and effort for fishing trips made by vessels fishing in St. Thomas. The catch and effort data for the entire trip are reported on a single form (i.e., one form per trip). The types of information required on this trip form includes information on the quantity (reported in pounds) caught for each species, the area of catch, the type and quantity of gear, the date of departure and return, the dealer and location (county and state where the trip is unloaded), the duration of the trip (time away from dock), an estimate of the fishing time, and the number of crew are included on this form.

Episodic cruises ( every 2 years) were conducted to perform assessments of Navassa Island coral reef resources including reeffish visual census, benthic reef community characterization, and targeted assessments of acute coral disease or bleaching events (when encountered).

Data contains information on demographics, fishing practices and vessel gear characteristics of Puerto Rican commercial fishermen

This data set is derived from complementary projects operated in western and southwestern Puerto Rico. The research was designed 1) to compare the prevalence and impact of coral diseases on reefs across a gradient of human affects from mainland Puerto Rico, to more remote shelf edge reefs, and also uninhabited offshore islands (Mona Island and Desecheo Island) to understand factors that enhance or decrease disease impacts and document the resulting effects on reef fish assemblages, and 2) to monitor restoration success at the site of the M/V Fortuna Reefer grounding on Mona Island using Acropora palmata fragment reattachment, growth, and survival, incidence of coral disease, and composition of reef fish assemblages as indicators of recovery and reef health. The data consist of transect surveys (30 x 2 m) and stationary point counts (5m radius) of reef fish assemblages taken around permanent sites: identification to the lowest taxon possible (generally, genus and species), abundance, size estimates (fork length to the nearest cm). Samples are identified by location, date, time, and observer. Benthic data are maintained separately by co-PI (A. Bruckner).

This project ensures that the existing data from previous fishery independent surveys can be combined with data collected under new methodology, ensuring preservation of long-time series reef fish datasets in the US Caribbean. Specifically, this archived dataset are the site level fish abundance and size observations collected simultaneously by one transect diver and a pair of stationary point count divers at survey sites in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These collection methods represent the pre- National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) belt-transect survey methodology and the currently used Reef Visual Census (RVC) survey methodology, respectively. More information about the methodologies can be found (Jeffrey 2019 & CRCP 2022). In the U.S. Caribbean, the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program began in 2012. Initially, the belt transect method was used for fish surveys, but then transitioned to the RVC method in all the U.S. Caribbean by 2016. This dataset is the field samples collected in order to properly calibrate belt transect data to RVC data.

This data set contains quantities and values for all seafood products that are reported landed in St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. These data are reported by fishermen that are licensed by the Territorial Government and are required to complete and submit fishing logs for each trip. There have been several major changes in the reporting forms throughout the program history which affect the data. These are documented separately. These are raw data are not corrected for non-compliance with the reporting regulations unless otherwise specified. For the purpose of these metadata, the word 'confidential' generally refers to sensitive data.

This data set contains catch and effort for fishing trips that are taken by vessels with a Federal permit issued for the swordfish and sharks under the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fishery management plan. Fishermen that own vessels with permits in these fisheries are required to complete a vessel logbook for every trip in which any species in the Highly Migratory Species fishery management plans are caught and landed. Fishermen are not required to report fishing trips in which other than these species are caught. However, fishermen are required to submit a no-fishing report if they did not fish for or catch any HMS species during a calendar month. In 1986, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) initiated a logbook program for vessels that held a federal vessel permit to fish for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In 1993, a similar program was initiated for vessels with a federal permit to fish for sharks that are included in the HMS fishery management plan. In order to provide sufficient level of detail for fishing effort by the longline vessels, the catch and effort data need to be reported for each longline set. Consequently, a single logbook form was designed for the fishermen to record the catch (numbers of animals caught) and effort, which includes data on the length of the longline, the number of hooks and the duration of the set. To reduce the number of times that fishermen need to record certain pieces of information, e.g., location of unloading, duration of trip, number of crew, a trip summary form was designed in 1999 that includes the trip-related information that is the same for every set. This redesign of the logbook form resulted in two forms, the trip summary and the set forms. Only one trip summary needs to be completed for each trip, but a separate set form needs to be completed for each longline set made during the trip. At the same time, additional questions were added to the trip summary form to collect information on the expenses that the vessels incurred during the trip. Initially, this information was voluntary and the fishermen did not have to provide the cost data whereas the catch and effort data are mandatory and the vessels permit will not be renewed if logbooks are not received for every trip where swordfish and/or sharks are caught and landed.

Data contains information on demographics and perceptions about efficacy of MPAs

This data set contains multi-trip and single trip level quantities and value for all seafood products that are landed and sold by established seafood dealers and brokers as well as by the fishers themselves at fishing centers in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These landings statistics include all commercially landed marine species and are identified by species (usually the local or common name). These data are collected by field samplers employed by the Department of Natural Resources through a trip ticket program. The program also collects data on the number of trips, type and amount of gear, the fishing location, hours fished, and the fishing center where the catches are landed. Data for the individual trip reports are provided to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). These data are formatted to be consistent with other landings statistics stored in the Accumulative Landings System; however, they are not summarized trips unless originally reported that way. By and large these are trip level data. The Puerto Rico codes are converted to the standard National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) codes. Not all fishers comply with reporting requirements. The amount varies from year to year. For this reason these data are subject to correction by dockside survey data obtained by the PR DPNR several times a year at various coastal locations. The surveys originally determined the number of trips at the location but since 2003 they have collected the total pounds landed. These data are applied to the reported data to obtain a ratio of reported/survey data which is then divided into the reported data to correct for under-reporting on a coastal basis.