Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be highly effective tools for conserving habitats, populations, and sustainable fisheries. The National Park Service (NPS) is hosting a collaboration of researchers assessing effectiveness of MPA boundaries, species movements, and identifying gaps in protection for a wide range of shark, turtle, and reef fish species. Building upon our previous work, we're tagging queen conch to examine time spent in protected areas, migrations to open fishing areas, spawning grounds, and nursery habitats.

This data set represents the benthic community information gathered from grab sampling in 2004 (12 stations). In Fall/Winter 2002, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducted a project to map benthic habitats by Catlett and Goodwin Islands on the York River, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Sediment grab samples were collected at 56 stations and sediment profile images were collected at 200 stations. Sampling areas were also surveyed using side scan sonar and multibeam bathymetry sensors. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences returned to sample a subset of the 2002 sediment grab data in 2003 and then again in 2004. A subset of SPI stations (79) were revisited in 2004. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

This data set represents the benthic community information gathered from grab sampling in 2003 (24 stations). In Fall/Winter 2002, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducted a project to map benthic habitats by Catlett and Goodwin Islands on the York River, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Sediment grab samples were collected at 56 stations and sediment profile images were collected at 200 stations. Sampling areas were also surveyed using side scan sonar and multibeam bathymetry sensors. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences returned to sample a subset of the 2002 sediment grab data in 2003 and then again in 2004. A subset of SPI stations (79) were revisited in 2004. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Sampled marshes and ponds along two transects within the intermediate and brackish marsh zones of Breton Sound, Louisiana, from May 7-11, 2001. Sampling followed several planned releases of freshwater from the Caernarvon diversion structure during the winter of 2000 and spring of 2001 as part of a larger study to examine the ecological effect of pulsed freshwater releases on the ecosystem.

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) sponsored a marine biological survey at Wake Atoll, located approximately 2,100 miles west of Honolulu at 19 deg 18 min North Latitude and 166 deg 35 min East Longitude. On behalf of the SMDC, biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) were invited to Wake Atoll in June 1998. The purpose of the visit was to conduct baseline marine biological surveys in the vicinity of the Peacock Point outfall pipe and to examine the sites of other point-source discharges to the marine environment (i.e., power plant, desalinization plant, and stormwater outlets). The biologists were asked to (1) generally characterize the coral-reef habitats within the vicinity of the outfall, (2) document the primary species of reef fishes, corals, other macroinvertebrates, and algae that exist in those habitats, and (3) investigate whether the reef communities at the other sites appeared to have been impacted by the discharges.

The Apalachicola Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management worked together to map benthic habitats within Apalachicola Bay, Florida. The bay and the lower portions of four distributaries were surveyed on 11-22 October 1999 using three benthic sampling techniques. This data set represents the information gathered from a RoxAnn acoustic sensor. The instrument was used to characterize bottom type by extracting data on bottom roughness and bottom hardness from the primary and secondary sounder echoes. The data is classified on-the-fly, using the Sediment Profile Images and grab samples collected for field validation, and subject to a post-processing classification. The RoxAnn data points were exported into a geographic information system (GIS) and post-processed to remove unreliable data points and re-classified. This data set is comprised of the cleaned, attributed point data. The attributes include location, date, time, depth, field derived classification, and the classification derived from post-processing the data. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Towed-diver surveys (aka. Towboard surveys) are conducted by the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) as part of biennial Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruises. These cruises support NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) long-term goals for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. 6 towboard surveys (10.1482 km in length), were conducted at Alamagan Island in the Marianas Archipelago from 3 September - 1 October 2005 as part of RAMP Cruise OES0511. Towboard surveys are a good method for obtaining a general description of large reef areas, assessing the status of low-density populations of large-bodied reef fish, large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching), general distribution and abundance patterns of macro-invertebrates (e.g., COT, giant clams), and for assessing trends in these populations and metrics. A pair of scuba divers (1 fish and 1 benthic diver) are towed 60 m behind a small survey launch at a speed of 1-2 knots and a depth of approximately 15m. Each survey is 50 min long, covers about 2 km of habitat, and is divided into ten 5-minute survey segments. The fish diver records, to the lowest possible taxon, all large-bodied reef fishes (>50cmTL) seen within 5m either side and 10m in front of the towboard. Length of each individual is estimated to the nearest cm. The fish towboard is also outfitted with a forward-facing digital video camera to record the survey swath. The benthic diver records percent cover of coral and macroalgae, estimates benthic habitat type and complexity, and censuses a suite of benthic macroinvertebrates including Crown of Thorns sea stars and sea urchins. The benthic towboard is equipped with a downward-facing digital still camera which images the benthos at 15 second intervals. These images are analyzed for percent cover of coral, algae, and other benthic components. Both towboards are equipped with SEABIRD SBE-39 temperature/depth sensors set to record at 5 second intervals. Latitude and longitude of each survey track is recorded at 15 second intervals using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver onboard the tow boat. A layback algorithm is applied to more accurately map the position of the divers with respect to the reef environment. This algorithm calculates the position of the divers based on the position of the tow boat taking into account the length of the tow rope, the depth of the divers, and the curvature of the survey track. This metadata applies to the fish biomass observations.

This data set represents the sediment grain size gathered from grab sampling in 2003 (24 stations).In Fall/Winter 2002, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducted a project to map benthic habitats by Catlett and Goodwin Islands on the York River, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Sediment grab samples were collected at 56 stations and sediment profile images were collected at 200 stations. Sampling areas were also surveyed using side scan sonar and multibeam bathymetry sensors. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences returned to sample a subset of the 2002 sediment grab data in 2003 and then again in 2004. A subset of SPI stations (79) were revisited in 2004. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

This fish and benthic composition database is the result of a multifaceted effort described below. The intent of this work is five fold: 1) To spatially characterize and monitor the distribution, abundance, and size of both reef fishes and macro-invertebrates (conch, lobster, Diadema); 2) To relate this information to in-situ data collected on associated benthic composition parameters; 3) To use this information to establish the knowledge base necessary for enacting management decisions in a spatial setting; 4) To establish the efficacy of those management decisions; and 5) To work with the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program to develop data collection standards and easily implemented methodologies for transference to other agencies and to work toward standardizing data collection throughout the US states and territories. Toward this end, the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment's Biogeography Branch (BB) has been conducting research in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands since 2000 and 2001, respectively. It is critical, with recent changes in management at both locations (e.g. implementation of MPAs) as well as proposed changes (e.g. zoning to manage multiple human uses) that action is taken now to accurately describe and characterize the fish/macro-invertebrate populations in these areas. It is also important that BB work closely with the individuals responsible for recommending and implementing these management strategies. Recognizing this, BB has been collaborating with partners at the University of Puerto Rico, National Park Service, US Geological Survey and the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources.To quantify patterns of spatial distribution and make meaningful interpretations, we must first have knowledge of the underlying variables determining species distribution. The basis for this work therefore, is the nearshore benthic habitats maps (less than 100 ft depth) created by NOAA's Biogeography Program in 2001 and NOS' bathymetry models. Using ArcView GIS software, the digitized habitat maps are stratified to select sampling stations. Sites are randomly selected within these strata to ensure coverage of the entire study region and not just a particular reef or seagrass area. At each site, fish, macro-invertebrates, and benthic composition information is then quantified following standardized protocols. By relating the data collected in the field back to the habitat maps and bathymetric models, BB is able to model and map species level and community level information. These protocols are standardized throughout the US Caribbean to enable quantification and comparison of reef fish abundance and distribution trends between locations. Armed with the knowledge of where "hot spots" of species richness and diversity are likely to occur in the seascape, the BB is in a unique position to answer questions about the efficacy of marine zoning strategies (e.g. placement of no fishing, anchoring, or snorkeling locations), and what locations are most suitable for establishing MPAs. Knowledge of the current status of fish/macro-invertebrate communities coupled with longer term monitoring will enable evaluation of management efficacy, thus it is essential to future management actions.