U.S. Caribbean Fishery-Independent Survey Workshop

SEFSC/SERO

Caribbean Fishery Management Council MeetingSt. Croix USVIApril 22-23, 2014

Internal MARFIN awarded FY2013

• Title: U.S. Caribbean Fishery-Independent Survey Workshop: to evaluate extant and novel fishery-independent surveys in the U.S. Caribbean in order to maximize their utility for stock assessment.

• Co-PIs: Shannon L. Cass-Calay, William S. Arnold, Jennifer Schull, Meaghan D. Bryan

• Tentative Date and Location: • Miami, FL • September 10-12, 2014 or Sept. 16-18, 2014

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 2

Specific Objectives:• Evaluate the design, data collection methods, etc. of

available FI surveys.• Explore the utility of surveys with respect to stock

assessments.• Make near-term and long-term recommendations on how to

improve data collection methods to enhance utility for stock assessment.

• Conduct a cost/benefit analysis to identify “action items”.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3

Scope of Work

• Focus on U.S. Caribbean• All available FI surveys, including historic surveys. For example:• Diver-based visual surveys• SEAMAP Caribbean survey• St. Croix Trap Study• Trap studies• ROV surveys• Camera surveys• Deep-diver surveys

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4

Agenda• DAY 1: • Morning Session- Modeling and data considerations• Overview of available models and data requirements• Discussion of current practices

• Afternoon Session- Description of survey designs• Selection of sampling locations (e.g. Stratification)• Sampling Intensity• Temporal-spatial coverage of sampling effort• Frequency of occurrence of relevant species

• Data Collected (e.g., number species, length, sex)• Training and Equipment Needs

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5

Agenda• DAY 2: • Morning Session: Description of survey designs (cont.)

• Afternoon Session: Integration and Enhancement• Strengths/Weaknesses with respect to assessing the status of

fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean• Gap Analysis (for example)• Insufficient temporal/spatial coverage• Deep-water fisheries• Diver-shy species• Cryptic species

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6

Agenda• DAY 3: • Morning Session: Integration and Enhancement (cont.)• Description of additional sampling required to enhance utility

for Stock Assessment• Predicted benefits

• Afternoon Session: Workshop Summary and Recommendations• Recommendations• Action Items

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7

Participation• We would like

additional participation from USVI and Puerto Rico

• Miguel Rolon• Graciela Garcia-Moliner• Richard Appeldoorn• Richard Nemeth• Jim Berkson• John Christensen• Shannon Cass-Calay• Bill Arnold

• Todd Gedamke • Meaghan Bryan• Kevin McCarthy • Jennifer Schull• Nancie Cummings• Mandy Karnauskas• Graciela Garcia-Moliner• Ron Hill• Andy Strelcheck• Jim Berkson• Jerry Ault• Steve Smith• Randy Clark

• Jim Bohnsack• Steve Turner• David Gloekner• Joseph Serafy• David Die• Todd Kellison• Benjamin Ruttenberg• Nick Farmer• Clay Porch

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8