Oculina Research Reserve Characterization Expedition  (Year 1 of 1) Project Number: SEGM-2001-03-20 Principle Investigators: Shepard, A. N., and J. N. Halls Region(s):  Background: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is now considering utilization of Marine Protected Areas throughout the Southeast U.S. and Gulf of Mexico to help sustain declining reef fisheries, particularly the snapper-grouper complex. The Oculina Banks Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC) is the oldest MPA off the southeast, first established in 1994 and expanded in 2000. SAFMC needs to know how effective this reserve is for protecting and conserving reef fish populations and habitat. They need to know this by 2004 when the closure ends. Since closure began in 1994 (expanded in 2000), there have been several restricted efforts to address these objectives, including: ·Sub and ROV dives and side-scan sonar survey in 1995, immediately after closure (Koenig et al. 2000) ·Beginning in 1996, NMFS and FSU deployed reef balls and transplant experiments ·ROV video recorded the re-colonization experiments in 1997-1999 (Koenig, pers. comm., unpub. data) In the 1970s and 1980s, scientists from Harbor Branch Oceanographic conducted several submersible dives in the OHAPC area. These data have been reported in several publications (e.g., Reed et. al. 1986, Reed 1980). These data and reports offer an opportunity to compare the condition of the reserve area over more than two decades. Objectives: The National Ocean Service’s “Islands in the Stream” includes submersible dives in the reserve. Primary research objectives include: ·Describe and map the EFH in the OHAPC ·Characterize the condition of the Oculina beds and associated benthic communities in the OHAPC ·Assess the effectiveness of the closed area in enhancing fish populations and sustaining healthy Oculina beds ·Inspect re-colonization experiments on damaged Oculina beds describe reproductive status of live corals Methods: The National Marine Fisheries Service received 2001 funding through the National Coral Reef Initiative to help address these objectives and to convey results of past and current research to the SAFMC and the public. This project will establish a Web-based Geographic Information System that includes 1) high resolution side-scan sonar records and bathymetry, 2) video, photographic and visual habitat data, 3) fish population assessments, and 4) historic data from past studies. The system will meet the following requirements: ·Web-based Graphical User Interface ·Incorporate the 1995 side-scan survey and 2001 in situ data, including map of all re-colonization experiments The GIS developed in 2001 may be enhanced in future years to include new multi-beam bathymetry, side-scan sonar, satellite temperature and ocean color imagery, in situ imagery (video and stills), transect data on benthic community (e.g., percent cover of live and dead O. varicosa), re-colonization experiments with description of results, and fish catch data from other sources. A dedicated Web site will be established to host the GIS as well as other desirable features including: photo gallery, database of related publications and abstracts, full copies of important documents (such as the OHAPC designation), links to important documents and sites (e.g., SAFMC).   In August 2001, just prior to the expedition, the OGIS project commenced overseen by Dr. J. Halls, Spatial Analysis Lab, UNCW. As described in the 2001 Statement of Work, the OGIS will integrate data collected before, during and after 2001, including the 1995 side-scan survey, 2001 in situ data, and point locations of re-colonization experiments. As of December 2001, OGIS includes the following data layers: 1995 Side-Scan Sonar Survey: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NMFS, in cooperation with Florida State University, collaborated in 1995 to collect continuous-coverage side-scan sonar data and in the Experimental Oculina Research Reserve (EORR) and a nearby control area to the north. These data helped guide 2001 dive locations and contributed to preliminary habitat map for the EORR and control areas NOS Hydrographic Data: Standard bathymetric soundings data from NOS fathometer surveys provides complete coverage of the OHAPC at low resolution. 2001 Submersible Dives: As described above, data from the 2001 expedition, including digital video and still photographs from the submersible and ROV dives, quantitative fisheries data and narrative descriptions of habitat types and reef fish species abundance are incorporated into the ArcView-based GIS. The imagery and habitat/fish population descriptions have been geo-referenced using the GPS collected dive locations and entered into OGIS as separate themes with hotlinks to the available imagery. A beta version of the OGIS on CD is on file at NURC. Leg 1    Begin Date: 8/29/2001   End Date: 9/5/2001   Support Vessel/Platform: R/V Seward Johnson System Ops Days Dives Dive Time (hrs) Depth (m) Phantom S2 - UNCW 8 21 16.48 96.9   Leg 2    Begin Date: 8/29/2001   End Date: 9/5/2001   Support Vessel/Platform: R/V Seward Johnson System Ops Days Dives Dive Time (hrs) Depth (m) Clelia 8 14 34 103 Manning, C.B. 2003. Topographic Analysis of the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern Using a Multimedia Geographic Information System (GIS) Ph.D. Dissertation, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 78pp. [NURC/UNCW T-03 -01]

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