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).

We supply abundance information of fish species along multiple randomly oriented transects at the lowest possible taxonomic level. This information is collected from multiple stations on an annual or biennial basis.

Between May 5, 1993 and September 19, 1994, we collected quantitative 1-m2 area drop samples and measured a variety of habitat attributes using field surveys and aerial photography to characterize three existing marshes (Atkinson Island, Hog Island, and Cedar Point) in Galveston Bay. We also compared nekton densities among different types of intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats (pond, channel, cove, open bay, and four marsh types). The vegetated surface consistently contained more species and dominant species exhibited at least some degree of habitat selection. To maximize fishery habitat, we recommend placing greater emphasis on constructing low marsh edge habitat by creating large areas of Spartina alterniflora and Scirpus maritimus marsh interspersed with a dense network of shallow channels and interconnected ponds.

Study compared densities of nekton, benthos, and seagrass among newly deposited dredged sediments and nearby and distant natural seagrass sites over a three year period. Recovery of seagrass and nekton communities from dredged material placement was predicted to take from 4-8 years.

The National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) a division of NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center (Seattle, WA) and Cascadia Research Collective (Olympia, WA) conducted aerial and small boat line transects to estimate the abundance of harbor porpoises in waters of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. This dataset contains line transect survey data with effort (line length) and sighting data (species, group size, distance/angle) and associated covariate data.

Fishery-independent data from the Federal/State/University cooperative Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) and the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center were used to generate maps of station locations, sampling effort and distribution and abundance of selected fish, shark and invertebrate species. The map layers for each species were summarized from SEAMAP Fall Plankton (1986-2016), SEAMAP Summer and Fall Bottom Trawl (1987-2018), SEAMAP Reef Fish Video (1995-2017) and NMFS Bottom Longline (2001-2018) surveys. Species specific information may be documented for a single or multiple surveys dependent upon available data.

This dataset contains information angler experiences and preferences for recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Southeast Fisheries Science Center Mississippi Laboratories conducts standardized fisheries independent resource surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and U.S. Caribbean to provide abundance and distribution information to support regional and international stock assessments. Environmental profiles are acquired during all surveys and are averaged into one meter depth bins. The data are acquired with Sea-Bird SBE25 and SBE9 profilers equipped with water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, beam transmittance, and fluorescence sensors. The data are processed with Sea-Bird software using a standard processing protocol.

As a part of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) management of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale population, a database of opportunistic beluga whale sightings was compiled from reports made by the general public, aircraft patrols, wildlife surveys, and military and industry monitoring studies. Sightings are reported to NMFS Alaska Regional (AKR) office personnel either by voice- or e-mail. Sighting data are then transcribed and sent to the NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) for entry into the database. Data are first assessed for quality during transcription by NMFS AKR personnel. Secondary review and confirmation is undertaken by NMFS NMML personnel prior to entry of data into the Access Database.

The effect of salinity on utilization of shallow-water nursery habitats by aquatic fauna was assessed in San Antonio Bay, Texas. Overall, 272 samples were collected in a variety of marsh, vegetated, and non-vegetated habitats throughout the Bay system. Sampling began in fall 1986 and extended through fall 1989. Vegetated habitats, marsh, and submerged aquatic vegetation has significantly higher densities of fishes and decapod crustaceans than bare mud habitats.