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Puerto Rico & Vieques 2008 Cruise Wrap–Up

Distribution of stratified random stations among the five study areas sampled by divers. A total of 436 scientific dives were completed without incident in support of this cruise’s sampling efforts.
Distribution of stratified random stations among the five study areas sampled by divers.
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Significant progress was made in documenting the marine resources of Isla Vieques during the NANCY FOSTER 2008 survey cruise. The cruise was a collaborative effort, and vital contributions were made by the officers and crew of the NANCY FOSTER and personnel of NOAA / NOS / NCCOS / Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research and the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, NOAA / NMFS / Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission   / Florida Wildlife Research Institute. Our goal this year was to survey the southern shelf of Vieques as results from previous years indicated that biologically, this shelf was particularly rich. Despite three days with 40-knot winds and seas to 10 feet, divers conducted stratified random surveys of benthic habitat, reef and soft bottom fish communities, and of juvenile fishes within nursery grounds in five shelf areas. A total of 436 dives were completed safely and without incident in support of this cruise.

Area Habitat survey Fish visual census Push net samples Sonar survey (km²)
1A 42 42 9 19.9
1 33 33 10 12.7
2 40 40 10 12.2
3 39 39 9 18
4 23 23 3 12.4
5 - - - 14.6
6 - - - 3
Table 1: Summary of number of stations or square kilometers sampled in seven areas that collectively comprise the southern shelf of Vieques. Areas 5 and 6 were only sampled with sonar as restrictions due to proximity to the Naval Bombing Range prohibited diving in these areas.

Chart depicting areas surveyed with multi– and split beam sonar during the cruise. Bathymetric data are portrayed on the chart as a color spectrum.
Areas surveyed with multi and split beam sonar during the cruise.
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Habitat diver Jennifer Kunzelman surveys a sea grass bed in 30 feet of water (Credit: John Burke)
Sea grass bed
(Credit: John Burke)
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During periods when dive operations were not conducted, multibeam and split beam sonar surveys were conducted from the NANCY FOSTER in seven study areas. Data analyses of these complimentary surveys will provide resource managers with a quantitative description of key aspects of shelf resources in support of conservation and restoration efforts. For more information, a report generated for the Puerto Rico Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales will be available on this page soon.

Principal Investigator John Burke led the experimental design process for this study. John also contributed to this final synopsis page and has contributed many colorful photos to the web log over the course of the past 10 days at sea. (Credit: Brett Harrison)
John Burke
(Credit: Brett
Harrison)

The Principal Investigator, John Burke, led the design team for this field study of the waters around Vieques. John also contributed this final synopsis page and has contributed many colorful photos to the web log over the course of the past 10 days.

Final photos from the cruise: click to enlarge
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The red hind (<em>Epinephelus guttatus</em>) was the most abundant of the commercially important groupers encountered in our fish surveys (Credit: Amy V. Uhrin)
Red hind (Credit:
Amy V. Uhrin)
This push net collection from a grass bed includes juveniles of four snapper species, two grunt species, and parrotfishes. As adults, these species are associated with coral reefs and use grass beds as nursery grounds (Credit: John Burke)
Push net collection
(Credit: John Burke)
Scientists Jud Kenworthy (L) and Roger Mays operate the push net to sample a seagrass bed in 10 meters of water (Credit: John Burke)
Push net
(Credit: John Burke)
The scientific party – back row (L to R): Brett Harrison, Don Field, Roger Mays, Amy Uhrin, Brad Teer, Jud Kenworthy, Manuel Merello, Missy Partyka, Brooke Landry; kneeling (L to R): Jennifer Kunzelman, Kim Foley, Jack Javech, Brian Degan, Christine Addison (Credit: Sarah Mrozek)
The scientific party
(Credit: Sarah Mrozek)
A diver swims along the transect above a dense forest of sea plumes, fans, and whips (Credit: Brian Degan)
Transect swim
(Credit: Brian Degan)
A mixed school of juveniles consisting of snapper and grunt species at the margin of a shallow reef in Area 4 (Credit: John Burke)
Mixed juveniles
(Credit: John Burke)