The USVI Larval Distribution and Supply Study Presented by Dr. Trika Gerard NOAA NMFS SEFSC PRB ELH December 9, 2008 Project funded by CRCP

Presentation outline: Our mission Background/purpose of study Fisheries oceanography component Inshore ecosystem assessment component ELH expertise/tools Management application/input

We are a multi-disciplinary team of scientists dedicated to excellence in early life history research to support applied fisheries management and habitat conservation in the Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean ecosystems. Caribbean Fisheries Management Council is charged with creating fisheries management plans for fishery resources off the waters of Puerto Rico and USVI

Mangrove Seagrass Reef Pelagic Many reef fish species use a variety of habitats during their life-cycle (e.g. snappers) Many reef fish species use a variety of habitats during their life-cycle (e.g. snappers) Mangroves are the intermediate habitat for reef fishes that use seagrass beds as juveniles Mangroves are the intermediate habitat for reef fishes that use seagrass beds as juveniles Understanding this dynamic connectivity is vital for coral reef conservation planning Understanding this dynamic connectivity is vital for coral reef conservation planning and fisheries management and fisheries management Graphic: C. Faunce; FWC

Survey larval reef fish distribution around U. S. Virgin Islands and adjacent islands and compare to Red Hind Bank and Grammanik Bank Determine physical properties of surrounding waters and assess current and transport pathways Develop larval reef fish transport model for U.S. Virgin Islands and surrounding areas Survey larval reef fish distribution around U. S. Virgin Islands and adjacent islands and compare to Red Hind Bank and Grammanik Bank Determine physical properties of surrounding waters and assess current and transport pathways Develop larval reef fish transport model for U.S. Virgin Islands and surrounding areas Fisheries Oceanography

Survey habitats known to be connected to coral reefs that play a vital role in the early life history of coral reef fishes. Determine the composition and abundance of coral reef fish larvae that are recruited to these near shore habitats for settlement. This analysis of isotopic trends may reveal whether larvae are being recruited from the same or disparate spawning aggregation. Survey habitats known to be connected to coral reefs that play a vital role in the early life history of coral reef fishes. Determine the composition and abundance of coral reef fish larvae that are recruited to these near shore habitats for settlement. This analysis of isotopic trends may reveal whether larvae are being recruited from the same or disparate spawning aggregation. Inshore ecosystem assessment

GRAMMANIK CLOSURE RED HIND CLOSED AREA Target site area

2007 Research Cruise Track

2008 Research Cruise Track

Equipment Retrieving 1-Meter MOCNESS Washing down the Nets Deploying Bongo Nets Portside Collecting plankton

UVI scientist deploying drifter buoy Picking up UVI scientist and student UVI scientist recovers CTD equipment

Snapper abundances Photo: E. D’Alessandro

Grouper abundances Juvenile Groupers

Legend: Squirrelfish, Blenny, Spaghetti Eel, Seahorse, Grouper, Large tooth flounder, Cardinalfish, Deepwater Cardinalfish, Snake Mackerel, Snapper, Codlet, Dolphinfish, Helmetfish, Surgeonfish, Filefish, Lanternfish, Grouper, Left Eye Flat fish Larval fishes from the USVI

Lagrangian drifter buoy tracks

Local Connectivity 2007 USVI MPAs & Near-shore Sampling:

Local Connectivity 2008 Equipment inshore sampling

Local connectivity results 2007 Bonefish larvae Coral reef larvae collected with light traps in 2008 samples. Scale shows 1 mm (Snapper, Grouper, Snapper, File fish Surgeon, Wrass, Jack, Porcupine fish, Damselfish)

Local connectivity 2008 results Bonefish larvae Bonefish adults

Isotope analyses for reef fish ecology Reef fish recruitment indices for population assessments Multiple in-shore sampling and assessment techniques Acoustic tagging and telemetry for tracking of reef-fish movements and site-fidelity Reef fish spawning aggregations & larval transport surveys Multivariate analyses of reef fish assemblages GIS mapping and spatial analyses of reef fish distributions, recruitment, and MPAs ELH expertise and tools

Fisheries independent surveys for stock assessment and management Larval transport and recruitment indices for fisheries species and for closure areas Data to compare/contrast managed vs. unmanaged areas from an ecosystem perspective Develop adaptive fisheries management policies for the Caribbean and Atlantic USVI coast Management applications

What are your priorities for fisheries management in this region How can our tools and expertise be applied to fit your management needs What is the best way to communicate products and results to be beneficial to the Council Management Input

a dialogue!! Let’s begin