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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Reef fish abundance and size data collected by transect and stationary point count methods: a calibration to enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers in the US Caribbean (NCEI Accession 0281207)

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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.
  • Cite as: Grove, Laura Jay; Blondeau, Jeremiah; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2023). Reef fish abundance and size data collected by transect and stationary point count methods: a calibration to enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers in the US Caribbean (NCEI Accession 0281207). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0281207. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0281207
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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 2018-06-08 to 2023-02-05
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -67.32825
East: -64.59181
South: 17.76474
North: 18.40452
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Bohnsack, J.A. and S.P. Bannerot. 1986. A stationary visual census technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes. U.S. DOC., NOAA Tech. Report NMFS 41, NOAA, Silver Spring. 15 p.
  • Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.). (2022). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Reef Visual Census (RVC) Fish Survey Protocols U.S. Atlantic: Florida, Flower Garden Banks, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands 2022. Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/1baa-5g44
  • Richards, B. (B. L., Smith, S. G. (S. G., Ault, J. S., DiNardo, G. T., Kobayashi, D. R., Domokos, R., Anderson, J., Taylor, J. C., Misa, W., Giuseffi, L., Rollo, A., Merritt, D., Drazen, J. C., Clarke, M. E. (M. E., & Tam, C. (20 C.E.). Design and implementation of a bottomfish fishery-independent survey in the main Hawaiian Islands. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5rr1w87
  • Jeffrey, Chris; Hile, Sarah; Christensen, John; Monaco, Mark; Caldow, Chris; Roberson, Kimberly; Clark, Randy; Bauer, Laurie; Pittman, Simon; Kendall, Matt; Friedlander, Alan; Morgan, Jessica (2019). NCCOS Assessment: Biogeographic Surveys of Benthic and Fish Communities in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico from 2001-01-09 to 2012-11-02 (NCEI Accession 0206670). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/rt0s-ty25.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2023-08-14
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: 2DGM4T
Purpose These data were collected in order to determine species-specific calibration factors that converts reef fish density collected by transect to reef fish density collected by stationary point count. This data will enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers in the US Caribbean
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; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2023). Reef fish abundance and size data collected by transect and stationary point count methods: a calibration to enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers in the US Caribbean (NCEI Accession 0281207). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0281207. 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 > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census
  • 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 Provider Keywords
  • number and size
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 > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > U. S. Virgin Islands > St. Croix > St. Croix (17N064W0003)
  • 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 /North Atlantic Ocean > Puerto Rico > Puerto Rico (18N066W0000)
  • 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. Croix (17N064W0003)
  • 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
  • 31264
  • Reef fish calibration study to enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Grove, Laura Jay; Blondeau, Jeremiah; NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (2023). Reef fish abundance and size data collected by transect and stationary point count methods: a calibration to enable the use of long-term, fishery-independent data by fisheries and regional managers in the US Caribbean (NCEI Accession 0281207). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0281207. 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
  • 2023-08-14T12:16:34Z - NCEI Accession 0281207 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: number and size (measured); Units: 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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