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<b> NOAA Coral Reef Initiative: Mapping Reef Fish Utilization of
Benthic Habitats off</b>
<br><b> Southwest Puerto Rico and St John, USVI</b>
<p> Mark Monaco, Matt Kendall and John Christensen of the NOAA/CCMA
Biogeography Team and John
<br> Burke, Craig Bonn and Mark Fonseca of NOAA/CMER just completed
a two-week survey of fish habitat
<br> utilization off southwest Puerto Rico. Visual census counts
by divers and netting were used to
<br> define patterns in fish habitat utilization, and underwater
video and GPS were used to document
<br> areas of habitat. The survey work complements the
development of CCMA's benthic habitat maps
<br> via expert interpretation of aerial photographs.
This work is part of a larger study that began in
<br> 1999 and includes developing regional benthic habitat
classification guides, maps of benthic habitat
<br> and species distributions, and determining the strength
of spatial correlation between species and
<br> habitat types. This work will be used to determine if
there is significant essential fish habitat (EFH)
<br> as defined by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council
to consider these areas for designation as
<br> Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Similar work will be conducted
by Biogeography Program staff
<br> off St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands during the June 17-July
1 time period. For more information
<br> contact Dr. Mark Monaco (301-713-3028, ext. 160 or Mark.Monaco@noaa.gov).</html>