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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Mesophotic (30-60m) fishery-independent survey in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from 2018-08-02 to 2022-12-16 (NCEI Accession 0276998)

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This project employed specialized technical SCUBA diving methods to provide the first assessment of population dynamics and habitat-related life history of reef fishes on the mesophotic reef habitat in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands that can improve Caribbean island-based stock assessments. This project used NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program's (NCRMP) standardized Reef Visual Census (RVC) survey methods that were developed by multiple agencies over 35 years ago and adopted as the standard reef fish monitoring method in 2010 for the U.S. territories. Exact protocols can be referenced in peer-reviewed publications (e.g., Bohnsack and Bannerot, 1986; Ault et al. 2006; Smith et al. 2011). The mesophotic fishery-independent survey information extends the ongoing biennial NCRMP survey (0-30m) out to 60 meters along the insular shelf and expands the surveyed hard bottom habitat by 143%. Key fishery metrics (density, occurrence, abundance, biomass, size-structured abundance etc.) can be calculated using standard analytical survey techniques (Smith et al. 2011).
  • Cite as: Grove, Laura Jay; Blondeau, Jeremiah; Smith, Tyler; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; University of the Virgin Islands (2023). Mesophotic (30-60m) fishery-independent survey in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from 2018-08-02 to 2022-12-16 (NCEI Accession 0276998). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276998. Accessed [date].
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2018-08-02 to 2022-12-16
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -65.15
East: -64.63
South: 18.15
North: 18.5
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2023-03-25
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Submission Package ID: Y0L9P5

In 2018 data providers were not able to sample all the sites necessary to have a complete year block due to field issues, and it took 2018, 2019, and 2020 to complete the first round of samples. Therefore, while the start date for this data package is listed as 2018, for analysis purposes and best use of the data 2020 was used as the first analysis year in the data files. Complete, full sampling was done in 2021 and 2022.
Purpose The deep reef-wide survey provides valuable insight into the overall ecological and management importance of the mesophotic reef habitat (e.g., fish population dynamics, possible refuge for juvenile or larger reproductive fishes, etc.). Limited research has shown that the deeper reefs are biologically important, supporting annual spawning aggregations for recreationally and commercially valuable yellowfin grouper, red hind, and dog snapper (Nemeth et al. 2004, 2005, 2008; Kadison et al. 2006). Similarly, the mesophotic reefs are known to be biologically important for Nassau grouper (Nemeth et al. 2008), a species that is prohibited from capture and recently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Grove, Laura Jay; Blondeau, Jeremiah; Smith, Tyler; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; University of the Virgin Islands (2023). Mesophotic (30-60m) fishery-independent survey in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from 2018-08-02 to 2022-12-16 (NCEI Accession 0276998). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276998. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Numeric Data Sets > Fish Census
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Deep-water corals > Fish Associations
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Belt Transect
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Stationary
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Census
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords Provider Platform Names
  • small boats
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. John > St. John (18N064W0011)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Thomas > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Leeward Islands > St. Thomas (18N064W0033)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Lesser Antilles > U. S. Virgin Islands (17N064W0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Virgin Islands > Virgin Islands > St. John (18N064W0011)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 31195
  • 743
  • Improve management of economically and ecologically valuable reef fishes in the USVI
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program
Provider Project Names
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Grove, Laura Jay; Blondeau, Jeremiah; Smith, Tyler; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center; University of the Virgin Islands (2023). Mesophotic (30-60m) fishery-independent survey in St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands from 2018-08-02 to 2022-12-16 (NCEI Accession 0276998). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276998. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2023-03-25T00:15:52Z - NCEI Accession 0276998 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: FISHERY SURVEY (measured); Units: number and size (cm); Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: visual estimate; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Number and sizes estimated in situ by trained divers following NCRMP fish sampling protocol.; Data Quality Method: Data entered using NCRMP data entry system by individual divers and then double checked by divers to ensure underwater datasheet entries match database entries. Followed by QAQC procedures that check for acceptable values and outliers..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • visual estimate
Last Modified: 2024-02-21T13:44:27Z
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