ALBERT

Description: This report is a result of long-term fish monitoring studies supported by the National Park Service (NPS) at the Virgin Islands National Park since 1988 and is now a joint NPS and NOAA collaboration. Reef fish monitoring data collected from 1988 to 2006 within Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) and adjacent reefs around St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) were analyzed to provide information on the status of reef fishes during the monitoring period. Monitoring projects were initiated by the National Park Service (NPS) in the 1980s to provide useful data for evaluation of resources and for development of a long-term monitoring program.Monthly monitoring was conducted at two reef sites (Yawzi Point and Cocoloba Cay) starting in November 1988 for 2.5 years to document the monthly/seasonal variability in reef fish assemblages. Hurricane Hugo (a powerful Category 4 storm) struck the USVI in September 1989 resulting in considerable damage to the reefs around St. John. Abundance of fishes was lower at both sites following the storm, however, a greater effect was observed at Yawzi Point, which experienced a more direct impact from the hurricane. The storm affected species differently, with some showing only small, short-term declines in abundance, and others, such as the numerically abundant blue chromis (Chromis cyanea), a planktivorous damselfish, exhibiting a larger and longer recovery period.This report provides: 1) an evaluation of sampling methods, sample size, and methods used during the sampling period, 2) an evaluation of the spatial and temporal variability in reef fish assemblages at selected reef sites inside and outside of VINP, and 3) an evaluation of trends over 17 years of monitoring at the four reference sites. Comparisons of methods were conducted to standardize assessments among years. Several methods were used to evaluate sample size requirements for reef fish monitoring and the results provided a statistically robust justification for sample allocation.

Description: This report is divided into six sections, the first of which provides information on documents that emphasize the need for education/training of minorities in the sciences including marine science. Also provided is material students can use to find out about careers in the sciences, some universities that offer marine science education, and curricula that should be considered. The second section deals with existing programs designed to train pre-college students and prepare them either for further education or potential employment in the sciences. The next four sections deal with existing programs in the marine sciences for college-level students, scholarships and scholarship programs, examples of loan programs, and internships and internship programs.

Description: In the past decade, increased awareness regarding the declining condition of U.S. coral reefs has prompted various actions by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Presidential Executive Order 13089 created the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) in 1998 to coordinate federal and state/territorial activities (Clinton, 1998), and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 provided Congressional funding for activities to conserve these important ecosystems, including mapping, monitoring and assessment projects carried out through the support of NOAA’s CRCP. Numerous collaborations forged among federal agencies and state, local, non-governmental, academic and private partners now support a variety of monitoring activities. This report shares the results of many of these monitoring activities, relying heavily on quantitative, spatially-explicit data that has been collected in the recent past and comparisons with historical data where possible. The success of this effort can be attributed to the dedication of over 270 report contributors who comprised the expert writing teams in the jurisdictions and contributed to the National Level Activities and National Summary chapters. The scope and content of this report are the result of their dedication to this considerable collaborative effort.Ultimately, the goal of this report is to answer the difficult but vital question: what is the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems? The report attempts to base a response on the best available science emerging from coral reef ecosystem monitoring programs in 15 jurisdictions across the country. However, few monitoring programs have been in place for longer than a decade, and many have been initiated only within the past two to five years. A few jurisdictions are just beginning to implement monitoring programs and face challenges stemming from a lack of basic habitat maps and other ecosystem data in addition to adequate training, capacity building, and technical support. There is also a general paucity of historical data describing the condition of ecosystem resources before major human impacts occurred, which limits any attempt to present the current conditions within an historical context and contributes to the phenomenon of shifting baselines (Jackson, 1997; Jackson et al., 2001; Pandolfi et al., 2005).

Description: The Biogeography Branch’s Sampling Design Tool for ArcGIS provides a means to effectively develop sampling strategies in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. The tool was produced as part of an iterative process of sampling design development, whereby existing data informs new design decisions. The objective of this process, and hence a product of this tool, is an optimal sampling design which can be used to achieve accurate, high-precision estimates of population metrics at a minimum of cost. Although NOAA’s Biogeography Branch focuses on marine habitats and some examples reflects this, the tool can be used to sample any type of population defined in space, be it coral reefs or corn fields.

Description: Investigators at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory (COL) diagnose and study crustaceans, mollusks, finfish, and a variety of other marine and estuarine invertebrates to assess animal health. This edition updates the Histological Techniques for Marine Bivalve Mollusks manual by Howard and Smith (1983) with additional chapters on molluscan and crustacean techniques. The new edition is intended to serve as a guide for histological processing of shellfish, principally bivalve mollusks and crustaceans. Basically, the techniques included are applicable for histopathological preparation of all marine animals, recognizing however that initial necropsy is unique to each species. Photographs and illustrations are provided for instruction on necropsy of different species to simplify the processing of tissues. Several of the procedures described are adaptations developed by the COL staff. They represent techniques based on principles establishedfor the histopathologic study of mammalian and other vertebrate tissues, but modified for marine and aquatic invertebrates. Although the manual attempts to provide adequate information on techniques, it is also intended to serve as a useful reference source to those interested in the pathology of marine animals. General references and recommended reading listed in the back of the manual will provide histological information on species not addressed in the text.

Description: This edition updates the Histological Techniques for Marine Bivalve Mollusks manual by Howard and Smith (1983) with additional chapters on molluscan and crustacean techniques.

Description: Land-based pollution is commonly identified as a major contributor to the observed deterioration of shallow-water coral reef ecosystem health. Human activity on the coastal landscape often induces nutrient enrichment, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, toxic contamination and other stressors that have degraded the quality of coastal waters. Coral reef ecosystems throughout Puerto Rico, including Jobos Bay, are under threat from coastal land uses such as urban development, industry and agriculture. The objectives of this report were two-fold: 1. To identify potentially harmful land use activities to the benthic habitats of Jobos Bay, and 2. To describe a monitoring plan for JobosBay designed to assess the impacts of conservation practices implemented on the watershed.This characterization is a component of the partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established by the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) in Jobos Bay. CEAP is a multi-agency effort to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices used by private landowners participating in USDA programs. The Jobos Bay watershed, located in southeastern Puerto Rico, was selected as the first tropical CEAP Special Emphasis Watershed (SEW). Both USDA and NOAA use their respective expertise in terrestrial and marine environments to model and monitor Jobos Bay resources.This report documents NOAA activities conducted in the first year of the three-year CEAP effort in Jobos Bay. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of the project and background information on Jobos Bay and its watershed. Chapter 2 implements NOAA’s Summit to Sea approach to summarize the existing resource conditions on the watershed and in the estuary. Summit to Sea uses a GIS-based procedure that links patterns of land use in coastal watersheds to sediment and pollutant loading predictions at the interface between terrestrial and marineenvironments. The outcome of Summit to Sea analysis is an inventory of coastal land use and predicted pollution threats, consisting of spatial data and descriptive statistics, which allows for better management of coral reef ecosystems. Chapters 3 and 4 describe the monitoring plan to assess the ecological response to conservationpractices established by USDA on the watershed.Jobos Bay is the second largest estuary in Puerto Rico, but has more than three times the shoreline of any other estuarine area on the island. It is a natural harbor protected from offshore wind and waves by a series of mangrove islands and the Punta Pozuelo peninsula. The Jobos Bay marine ecosystem includes 48 km² of mangrove, seagrass, coral reef and other habitat types that span both intertidal and subtidal areas. Mapping of Jobos Bay revealed 10 different benthic habitats of varying prevalence, and a large area of unknown bottom type covering 38% of the entire bay. Of the known benthic habitats, submerged aquatic vegetation, primarily seagrass, is the most common bottom type, covering slightly less than 30% of the bay. Mangroves are the dominant shoreline feature, while coral reefs comprise only 4% of the total benthic habitat. However, coral reefs are some of the most productive habitats found in Jobos Bay, and provide important habitat and nursery grounds for fish and invertebrates of commercial and recreational value.

Description: Conservation Effects Assessment Project, in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture

Description: This chapter describes the procedures for determining the reproductive stage of oysters, mytilid mussels, and dreissenid mussels collected for NOAA’s National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Project. Analyses are conducted on paraffin-embedded tissues sectioned at a 5-μm thickness and stained using a pentachrome staining procedure. Each slide is examined microscopically to determine the animal’s sex and stage of gonadal development. A semi-quantitative ranking is assigned.

Description: On July 12-15, 2008, researchers and resource managers met in Jupiter, Florida to discuss and review the state of knowledge regarding mesophotic coral ecosystems, develop a working definition for these ecosystems, identify critical resource management information needs, and develop a Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Research Strategy to assist the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other agencies and institutions in their research prioritization and strategic planning for mesophotic coral ecosystems. Workshop participants included representatives from international, Federal, and state governments; academia; and nongovernmental organizations. The Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Workshop was hosted by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and organized by NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The workshop goals, objectives, schedule, and products were governed by a Steering Committee consisting of members from NOAA (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research’s NOAA Undersea Research Program, and the National Marine Fisheries Service), USGS, PIMS, the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, and the Bishop Museum.

Description: NOAA Technical Memorandum OAR OER 2

Description: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) initiated a coral reef research program in 1999 to map, assess, inventory, and monitor U.S. coral reef ecosystems (Monaco et al. 2001). These activities were implemented in response to requirements outlined in the Mapping Implementation Plan developed by the Mapping and Information Synthesis Working Group (MISWG) of the Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) (MISWG 1999). As part of the MISWG of the CRTF, NOS' Biogeography Branch has been charged with the development and implementation of a plan to produce comprehensive digital coral-reef ecosystem maps for all U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths within five to seven years. Joint activities between Federal agencies are particularly important to map, research, monitor, manage, and restore coral reef ecosystems. In response to the Executive Order 13089 and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, NOS is conducting research to digitally map biotic resources and coordinate a long-term monitoring program that can detect and predict change in U.S. coral reefs, and their associated habitats and biological communities.Most U.S. coral reef resources have not been digitally mapped at a scale or resolution sufficient for assessment, monitoring, and/or research to support resource management. Thus, a large portion of NOS' coral reef research activities has focused on mapping of U.S. coral reef ecosystems. The map products will provide the fundamental spatial organizing framework to implement and integrate research programs and provide the capability to effectively communicate information and results to coral reef ecosystem managers. Although the NOS coral program is relatively young, it has had tremendous success in advancing towards the goal to protect, conserve, and enhance the health of U.S. coral reef ecosystems. One objective of the program was to create benthic habitat maps to support coral reef research to enable development of products that support management needs and questions. Therefore this product was developed in collaboration with many U.S. Pacific Territory partners. An initial step in producing benthic habitat maps was the development of a habitat classification scheme. The purpose of this document is to outline the benthic habitat classification scheme and protocols used to map American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Thirty-two distinct benthic habitat types (i.e., four major and 14 detailed geomorphological structure classes; eight major and 18 detailed biological cover types) within eleven zones were mapped directly into a geographic information system (GIS) using visual interpretation of orthorectified IKONOS satellite imagery. Benthic features were mapped that covered an area of 263 square kilometers. In all, 281 square kilometers of unconsolidated sediment, 122 square kilometers of submerged vegetation, and 82.3 square kilometers of coral reef and colonized hardbottom were mapped.

Description: In 1977 a new fishery began to develop off the coast ofsouthern California. Long gill nets, drifted near the surface in the deep offshore waters, were being used successfully in landing pelagic sharks, primarily threshers. Recent increases in the retail demand for fish had led wholesale buyers to look for new sources of fish protein. Shark meat looked promising to many buyers. Aided by the public's rekindled fascination for sharks, the timing seemed favorable for introducing sharks as food. Word spread that wholesalers were willing to pay a good price for sharks. This created what appeared to many commercial fishermen to be the beginning of a bonanza.The new shark fishery grew rapidly. The number of vesselsengaged in offshore drift gill net operations grew from about 15 in 1977 to approximately 230 by 1984.Fishery biologists have expressed concern over the rapidexpansion of the commercial shark fleet. Historically, sharkfisheries have tended to decline after their initial success, due principally to slow growth and reproductive rates which seem to characterize sharks as a group. Perhaps the new thresher shark fishery might also be subject to a similar decline.Biologists were not the only ones who looked on the newindustry with concern. Among sport fishermen and conservation groups, rumors of marlin, whales, and seals taken by the hundreds became commonplace.Concern spread among the traditional swordfish harpoonfleet that landings by drift gill nets might glut the swordfish markets, driving prices down to the point that harpooners could no longer compete. Some harpooners voiced fears that drift gill nets might even overfish the swordfish stocks, causing serious declines in the availability of fish.Some conservation groups sought to ban the use of all gillnets, feeling that gill nets are inherently indiscriminant in what they catch and that the benefits derived from their use is always over-shadowed by the waste of marine life resulting from their use.In September of 1980, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill2564 (Kapiloff), which directed the Department of Fish and Game to conduct a study of the drift gill net shark fishery. The purpose of the study was to determine what impact the use of drift gill nets might have on existing fisheries or upon other members of the local marine community such as whales, dolphins, and seals. The final report of that study "Pelagic Shark/Swordfish Drift Gill Net Fishery Management Information Document" was sent to the California Legislature in January 1983.In September 1982, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1573(Beverly), directing the Department of Fish and Game to continue monitoring the drift gill net fishery. It also directed, that a further study be conducted on the status of the thresher shark and swordfish resources off California and on the effects of the fishery on other resources. A report on this study would be prepared and delivered to the Legislature on or before January 1, 1985. The study was conducted. This is the report on that work. (77pp.)

Description: State law requires that the population of Pacificsardines, Sardinops sagax caeruleus, must reach aminimum spawning biomass of 20,000 short tons beforeinitiation of a fishery. Data from ichthyoplanktonsurveys, the anchovy live bait fishery, sea surveycruises, the mackerel purse seine fishery, and a brownpelican food study are discussed concerning evidenceof an increase in population size. The spawningbiomass of the northern stock of sardines appears tobe remaining well below 20,000 tons. (9pp.)

Description: State law provides for the initiation of a fishery forPacific sardines, Sardinops sagax caeruleus, when thespawning biomass of sardines reaches 20,000 short tons.Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, sea survey cruises,the mackerel fishery sampling program, and the live baitmonitoring program are discussed with regard to an increasein population size. It appears that the spawningbiomass of the northern stock of Pacific sardines remainsbelow 20,000 tons. (7pp.)

Description: State law provides for the initiation of a fishery for Pacific sardines, Sardinops sagax caeruleus, when the spawning biomass of sardines reaches 20,000 short tons. Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, sea survey cruises, the mackerel fishery sampling program, and the live-bait fishery monitoring program are discussed with regard to an increase in population size. It appears that the spawning biomass of the northern stock of Pacific sardines remains below 20,000 tons. Legislation passed in 1983 which affects the incidental take and commercial use of sardines is also discussed. (9pp.)

Description: State law provides for the initiation of a 1000-ton fishery for Pacific sardines, Sardinops sagax, when the spawning biomass of sardines reaches 20 000 short tons.Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, an aerial spotter index, sea survey cruises, the mackerel fishery, and the live bait fishery are discussed as indicators of the relative abundance of sardines compared to previous years. It appears the spawning biomass of the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine remains below 20 000 tons. A proposedsurvey plan is described for determining the relative magnitude of the sardine spawning biomass on an annual basis. Legislation is discussed which was passed in 1984 and pertains to the sardine resource. (23pp.)

Description: This report is the first annual report submitted in partialfulfillment of Research Contract No. S-1902 between the Department of Fish and Game and the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Through this contract the Department of Fish and Game is to conduct a preoperational ecological study to establish a base line inventory of the marine biota with special reference to fish and to abalone,including food chains.This first annual report covers all work from September 1971 through December 1972.This annual report covers the first 18 month period of the project from July 1, 1971 through December 31, 1972. The report includes results (discussion and tables) of our subtidal, intertidal, sportfishery, fish collection, fish food habit, and plankton studies. The quarterly reportfor October 1 to December 31, 1972 is included herein and these data are incorporated in this annual report. (86pp.)

Description: (2pp.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: (3pp.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: Document has 1 page.

Description: (2pp.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: (1p.)

Description: Document has 3 pages.

Description: (2pp.)

Description: 2pp.

Description: 2 pp.

Description: Document has 1 page

Description: 1 p.

Description: Document has 8pp.

Description: The northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, has been thesubject of increasing exploitation during the last 60 years.Concentrated studies of its biology and population dynamicshas yielded population estimates of 5 to 8 million metrictons or about 5 to 10 times that existing during 1950-51.Continuing cooperative study programs between the State ofCalifornia, the Federal Government and the government ofMexico are recommended. (15pp.)

Description: The jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus, resource off thewest coast of North America is known to be large and widelydistributed. The spawning biomass is estimated to be 2.1 to 4.8 million tons based upon abundance of jack mackerel eggs collected at sea. The distribution extends from the Gulf of Alaska to the Gulf of Tehuantepec, off the coast of southern Mexico, and as far as 1,500 miles seaward. Within this range lies an area of maximum density which extends from Point Conception to central Baja California.Jack mackerel biological data has not been processed veryrapidly due to higher priorities for analysis of sardine andPacific mackerel data, and the apparent healthy condition ofthis resource. The California Department of Fish and Gameinitiated several projects in 1972 to resolve unanswered biological questions. (14pp.)

Description: Recent developments in management, biological knowledge,and history of the Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, resource and its fishery in California and Mexico are reviewed. Currently the resource is extremely depleted, and commercial fishing has been curtailed. The 1970 year class was successful, and eventual rehabilitation of the fishery is anticipated. (15pp.)

Description: Mariculture in California is currently under developmentby several private concerns, universities, and by theCalifornia Department of Fish and Game. At present, mostof these efforts classify as research and development witha few in the pilot production phase.The Department of Fish and Game is presently conductingresearch in the culture of mortality resistant strains ofPacific oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the red abalone,Haliotis rufescens, and the spot prawn, Pandalus platyceros. (18pp.)

Description: The California yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis, is a highlyfavored sport fish and a minor commercial species. Since1954 commercial landings have been limited by demand, and thesport catch has been about three times the number of fishcaught by commercial fishermen.Recreational fishing for yellowtail in southernCalifornia waters is almost entirely dependent on annualmigrants from central and northern Baja California. The resource is presently healthy but reduced catches off California could be the result of an expanded catch off Mexico. (19pp.)

Description: Investigation of Pacific oyster mortalities was carriedout over a six-year period in major northern and centralCalifornia oyster rearing areas. Effort was directed towarddefining areas of high oyster mortality and determiningpossible etiologies of observed losses through monthly monitoring and sampling of experimental and commercial oyster populations in Morro Bay, Elkhorn Slough, Drakes Estero, Tomales Bay and Humboldt Bay.Hydrographic data was collected in all areas and a two yearstudy of phytoplankton and water quality in Humboldt Baywas initiated to observe relationships with oyster mortalitypatterns.Research undertaken to develop methods to alleviate losses among Pacific oyster populations included an oyster seed source study, investigation of optimal oyster culturingtechniques and preliminary efforts to develop a mortalityresistant strain of oysters in Humboldt Bay. The cause ofmortality among Pacific oyster populations in Humboldt Bayremains uncertain but a bacterial etiology correlated withelevated water temperatures is suspected. The best methodof circumvention of losses appears to be the culturing of"domestic" seed sources on racks. (55pp.)

Description: The catch per unit of effort of the sardine along thecoast of California has been published for the period 1932 to 1953. This paper continues the catch per unit of effort study through the 1961-62 season. Although the catch per unit of effort varied greatly during this later period, it never reached the high levels reported during the 1940's or decreased below the values reported for the disastrous seasons of 1952-53 and 1953-54. Mortalities and year class strengths are briefly discussed. (45pp.)

Description: Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, have become increasinglyimportant to California's sport and commercial fishermen sincethe early 1960's, but are now showing signs of decline. Recentinvestigations have revealed much about the bonito's lifehistory and population dynamics.These recent discoveries have been brought together into a document which will serve as a guide to future managementactions. Document has 44 pages.

Description: The southern California commercial catch of jack mackerel experienced a tremendous expansion during the 1947-48 season. Landings ranged from a high of 158.7 million pounds landed during 1952-53 t o a low of 14.0 million pounds landed during 1954-55.The 1947 year class contributed 296,718 thousand fish and 167,997 thousand pounds. (49pp.)

Description: Approximately 29.7,25.9, 50.9, 64.6, and 102.9 millionpounds were landed for the 1957-58 through 1961-62 seasons.The 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960 year classes each contributedover 100 million fish to the fishery over the fiveseasons. The 1958 year class also contributed 112 millionpounds landed. (27pp.)

Description: Commercial landings for the 1962-63 through 1966-67 seasons ranged from a high of 92.9 million pounds landed in 1962-63 to a low of 41.2 million pounds landed during 1966-67.The 1958 year class contributed 401,054,000 fish and127,207,000 pounds through the 9 seasons it was present inthe fishery. This was the largest number of fish contributedto the fishery by any year class since jack mackerel canningstarted in 1947. (30pp.)

Description: Sea otter foraging along Monterey Bay beaches and at Atascadero State Beach has precluded recreational Pismo clam fisheries at six major clamming beaches. Outside the sea otter's foraging range Pismo clam stocks are yielding good catches; apparently the stringent controls on the recreational fishery is adequate to maintain the State's Pismo clam stocks. Clammer interviews at Orange and Los Angeles County beaches and at beaches near Pismo Beach and Morro Bay and in Monterey Bay revealed the clam stocks to be on a healthy, sustainable yield basis. Exceptionallylarge numbers of small 1.5 to 3.5 inch Pismo clams were reported at all clam beaches surveyed north of Pt. Conception indicating good year class survival in recent years. Sea otters forage dense Pismo clam beds by moving along a "front", progressively foraging from one beach to the next, reducing the clams to low levels before moving on. Some sea otters continue to forage throughout the areas previously depleted by the larger aggregate moving northward, thus the large numbers of sublegal clamsin the 1.5 to 3.5 inch size group in these intertidal and shallow subtidal areas are not expected to reach legal size in numbers sufficient to develop a recreational fishery. In Monterey Bay about 60,000 Pismo clams were removed or killed by human activity in the April 1974 to March 1975 period. A rough estimate of the Pismo clams consumed by sea otters during this same period in Monterey Bay is over 500,000 clams. (51pp.)

Description: The sea otter, Enhydra 1utris, is fully protected inCalifornia by both state and federal law. Despite thisprotection the population has not grown appreciably since atleast 1976. Research efforts directed at identifying thereasons for the lack of population growth have concentratedon sources of mortality and their contribution to totalmortality.The accidental drowning of sea otters in gill and trammelnets used to take California halibut, Para1ichthysca1ifornicus, was identified as a source of mortality whichhas probably increased as the sea otter population expandedinto areas of intense fishing. As a result, an existinggill and trammel net fishery observation program in MontereyBay was expanded to assess the extent and significance ofthe accidental drownings of sea otters in the areas nearMorro Bay and Port San Luis.Three different estimates of the number of sea ottersdrowned annually in gill and trammel nets were generatedusing comparable data bases. The average of these estimateswas approximately 80 sea otters per year for the level offishing effort expended during the June 1982 through June1984 study period.Back calculations of the annual take of sea otters by thegill and trammel net fishery for California halibut weremade for each year from 1973 through 1983. Thesecalculations suggest that the level of accidental take ofsea otters during the last decade may have been high enoughto be a significant factor in the lack of sea otterpopulation growth. (31pp.)

Description: San Diego Bay was reopened to commercial gill net fishingfor striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, in that portion of thebay south of the San Diego - Coronado bridge in 1977 via anexperimental gear permit issued by the Fish and GameCommission. In 1985, legislation was passed allowing up tofive permits each annual season to fish for striped mulletin south San Diego Bay. Annual landings ranged from 18,700to 46,800 pounds from 1980 through 1986. (17pp.)

Description: Speckled scallops, Argopecten circularis (Sowerby, 1835), were sampled at Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad, San Diego County from March 1984 to October 1986, to obtain basic life history data. Monthly samples of scallops were collected, measured, and released to obtain length frequency data for estimates of growth, life span, and spawning period. Subsamples of scallops were collected for determination of gonadal-somatic and adductor muscle-somatic indices.In 1984 large concentrations of speckled scallops were found on the sand-silt bottom of the lagoon, closely associated with eelgrass, Zostra marina. During the course of the study the numbers of scallops declined, until their virtual disappearance at the end of 1986. Monthly length frequency plots from 24,375 scallop measurements indicate that this is a rapidly growing species with a short life span. Gonadal- and adductor muscle-somatic indices from subsamples of 1,714 scallops indicate first spawning at age one and a relationship between temperature and spawning.Based on this study management recommendations are made for the speckled scallop. (39pp.)

Description: Nearly 49,000 metric tons (MT) of anchovies were taken during the 1978-79 season, followed by 32,390 MT in 1979-80, 60,678 MT in 1980-81 and 45,150 MT in 1981-82. A total of 14,076 fish was sampled during the four seasons for age, length and sex. The fishery during the four seasons consisted mainly of young-of-the-year and age groups I and II fish. The 1978 and 1979 yr classes comprised the major share of the catch. Seasonal mean lengths varied from 112 mm standard length (SL) in the 1979-80 season to 122 mm SL for the 1981-82 season. Female to male sex ratios ranged from 1.17:l (1978-79 season) to 1.59:l (1979-80 season). (28pp.)

Description: Red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, were collected at Johnsons Lee, Santa Rosa Island, in the summers of 1978 through 1982, and in 1984, to obtain data for determining various fishery population parameters. Annual visits to the study site were made at yearly intervals to simplify growth calculations.During the first four visits, 2145 red abalones were tagged,measured, and replaced. Shell damage, soft tissue injuries, and causes of mortality were noted. The method of tagging isdescribed.Recovery of first tagged abalone after one year was approximately 30%. Analysis of variance of the annual samples indicated that the samples were, with one exception, not different. Summaries are presented of the number of abalone collected and tagged by year, frequencies of shell damage, soft tissue injury, predatory sponge infestation, and total mortality. Appendices include a listing of the raw size data and various codes for each tagged abalone. (56pp.)

Description: The annual mortality rate for the northern anchovy, Engraulismordax, is estimated to be 66.5% in southern California waters, although the mortality rate increases sharply for older fish. A method for evaluating recruitment regularity and age constancy of mortality is presented. (Document has 25 pages)

Description: White seabass, Cynoscion nobilis, have been fished inCalifornia since late in the ninteenth century. At presentthe commercial fishery is stable, landing about 8 hundredthousand pounds per year, but the sport fishing has declinedto the poorest catch on record. (Document has 11 pages.)

Description: Commercial landings for 5 seasons, 1967-68 through1971-72, approximated 36.5, 58.7, 36.8, 57.0 and 56.2million pounds respectively (16,600; 26,600; 16,700;25,900 and 25,500 Mg).The 1967 year class dominated the fishery during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons. The 1970 year class, in the fishery only 2 years, contributed an estimated 250 million fish and 45 million pounds (20,400 Mg). (46pp.)

Description: (1 page)

Description: (4pp.)

Description: (1 page)

Description: (1 page)

Description: (3pp.)

Description: (2pp.)

Description: (4pp.)

Description: (Document pdf contains 19 pages)

Description: (PDF contains 3 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 2 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 5 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 7 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 1 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 4 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 3 pages.)

Description: Executive Summary:Baseline characterization of resources is an essential part of marine protected area (MPA) management and is critical to inform adaptive management. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) currently lacks adequate characterization of several key resources as identified in the 2006 Final Management Plan. The objectives of this characterization were to fulfill this need by characterizing the bottom fish, benthic features, marine debris, and the relationships among them for the different bottom types within the sanctuary: ledges, sparse live bottom, rippled sand, and flat sand. Particular attention was given to characterizing the different ledge types, their fish communities, and the marine debris associated with them given the importance of this bottom type to the sanctuary.The characterization has been divided into four sections. Section 1 provides a brief overview of the project, its relevance to sanctuary needs, methods of site selection, and general field procedures. Section 2 provides the survey methods, results, discussion, and recommendations for monitoring specific to the benthic characterization. Section 3 describes the characterization of marine debris. Section 4 is specific to the characterization of bottom fish. Field surveys were conducted during August 2004, May 2005, and August 2005. A total of 179 surveys were completed over ledge bottom (n=92), sparse live bottom (n=51), flat sand (n=20), and rippled sand (n=16). There were three components to each field survey: fish counting, benthic assessment, and quantification of marine debris. All components occurred within a 25 x 4 m belt transect. Two divers performed the transect at each survey site. One diver was responsible for identification of fish species, size, and abundance using a visual survey. The second diver was responsible for characterization of benthic features using five randomly placed 1 m2 quadrats, measuring ledge height and other benthic structures, and quantifying marine debris within the entire transect.GRNMS is composed of four main bottom types: flat sand, rippled sand, sparsely colonized live bottom, and densely colonized live bottom (ledges). Independent evaluation of the thematic accuracy of the GRNMS benthic map produced by Kendall et al. (2005) revealed high overall accuracy (93%). Most discrepancies between map and diver classification occurred during August 2004 and likely can be attributed to several factors, including actual map or diver errors, and changes in the bottom type due to physical forces.The four bottom types have distinct physical and biological characteristics. Flat and rippled sand bottom types were composed primarily of sand substrate and secondarily shell rubble. Flat sand and rippled sand bottom types were characterized by low percent cover (0-2%) of benthic organisms at all sites. Although the sand bottom types were largely devoid of epifauna, numerous burrows indicate the presence of infaunal organisms. Sparse live bottom and ledges were colonized by macroalgae and numerous invertebrates, including coral, gorgonians, sponges, and “other” benthic species (such as tunicates, anemones, and bryozoans). Ledges and sparse live bottom were similar in terms of diversity (H’) given the level of classification used here. However, percent cover of benthic species, with the exception of gorgonians, was significantly greater on ledge than on sparse live bottom. Percent biotic cover at sparse live bottom ranged from 0.7-26.3%, but was greater than 10% at only 7 out of 51 sites. Colonization on sparse live bottom is likely inhibited by shifting sands, as most sites were covered in a layer of sediment up to several centimeters thick. On ledge bottom type, percent cover ranged from 0.42-100%, with the highest percent cover at ledges in the central and south-central region of GRNMS.Biotic cover on ledges is influenced by local ledge characteristics. Cluster analysis of ledge dimensions (total height, undercut height, undercut width) resulted in three main categories of ledges, which were classified as short, medium, and tall. Median total percent cover was 97.6%, 75.1%, and 17.7% on tall, medium, and short ledges, respectively. Total percent cover and cover of macroalgae, sponges, and other organisms was significantly lower on short ledges compared to medium and tall ledges, but did not vary significantly between medium and tall ledges. Like sparse live bottom, short ledges may be susceptible to burial by sand, however the results indicate that ledge height may only be important to a certain threshold. There are likely other factors not considered here that also influence spatial distribution and community structure (e.g., small scale complexity, ocean currents, differential settlement patterns, and biological interactions).GRNMS is a popular site for recreational fishing and boating, and there has been increased concern about the accumulation of debris in the sanctuary and potential effects on sanctuary resources. Understanding the types, abundance, and distribution of debris is essential to improving debris removal and education efforts. Approximately two-thirds of all observed debris items found during the field surveys were fishing gear, and about half of the fishing related debris was monofilament fishing line. Other fishing related debris included leaders and spear gun parts, and non-gear debris included cans, bottles, and rope. The spatial distribution of debris was concentrated in the center of the sanctuary and was most frequently associated with ledges rather than at other bottom types. Several factors may contribute to this observation. Ledges are often targeted by fishermen due to the association of recreationally important fish species with this bottom type. In addition, ledges are structurally complex and are often densely colonized by biota, providing numerous places for debris to become stuck or entangled. Analysis of observed boat locations indicated that higher boat activity, which is an indication of fishing, occurs in the center of the sanctuary. On ledges, the presence and abundance of debris was significantly related to observed boat density and physiographic features including ledge height, ledge area, and percent cover. While it is likely that most fishing related debris originates from boats inside the sanctuary, preliminary investigation of ocean current data indicate that currents may influence the distribution and local retention of more mobile items.Fish communities at GRNMS are closely linked to benthic habitats. A list of species encountered, probability of occurrence, abundance, and biomass by habitat is provided. Species richness, diversity, composition, abundance, and biomass of fish all showed striking differences depending on bottom type with ledges showing the highest values of nearly all metrics. Species membership was distinctly separated by bottom type as well, although very short, sparsely colonized ledges often had a similar community composition to that of sparse live bottom. Analysis of fish communities at ledges alone indicated that species richness and total abundance of fish were positively related to total percent cover of sessile invertebrates and ledge height. Either ledge attribute was sufficient to result in high abundance or species richness of fish. Fish diversity (H`) was negatively correlated with undercut height due to schools of fish species that utilize ledge undercuts such as Pareques species. Concurrent analysis of ledge types and fish communities indicated that there are five distinct combinations of ledge type and species assemblage. These include, 1) short ledges with little or no undercut that lacked many of the undercut associated species except Urophycis earlii ; 2) tall, heavily colonized, deeply undercut ledges typically with Archosargus probatocephalus, Mycteroperca sp., and Pareques sp.; 3) tall, heavily colonized but less undercut with high occurrence of Lagodon rhomboides and Balistes capriscus; 4) short, heavily colonized ledges typically with Centropristis ocyurus, Halichoeres caudalis, and Stenotomus sp.; and 5) tall, heavily colonized, less undercut typically with Archosargus probatocephalus, Caranx crysos and Seriola sp.. Higher levels of boating activity and presumably fishing pressure did not appear to influence species composition or abundance at the community level although individual species appeared affected. These results indicate that merely knowing the basic characteristics of a ledge such as total height, undercut width, and percent cover of sessile invertebrates would allow good prediction of not only species richness and abundance of fish but also which particular fish species assemblages are likely to occur there. Comparisons with prior studies indicate some major changes in the fish community at GRNMS over the last two decades although the causes of the changes are unknown.Species of interest to recreational fishermen including Centropristis striata, Mycteroperca microlepis, and Mycteroperca phenax were examined in relation to bottom features, areas of assumed high versus low fishing pressure, and spatial dispersion. Both Mycteroperca species were found more frequently when undercut height of ledges was taller. They often were found together in small mixed species groups at ledges in the north central and southwest central regions of the sanctuary. Both had lower mode size and proportion of fish above the fishery size limit in heavily fished areas of the sanctuary (i.e. high boat density) despite the presence of better habitat in that region. Black sea bass, C. striata, occurred at 98% of the ledges surveyed and appeared to be evenly distributed throughout the sanctuary. Abundance was best explained by a positive relationship with percent cover of sessile biota but was also negatively related to presence of either Mycteroperca species. This may be due to predation by the Mycteroperca species or avoidance of sites where they are present by C. striata.Suggestions for monitoring bottom features, marine debris, and bottom fish at GRNMS are provided at the end of each chapter. The present assessment has established quantitative baseline characteristics of many of the key resources and use issues at GRNMS. The methods can be used as a model for future assessments to track the trajectory of GRNMS resources. Belt transects are ideally suited to providing efficient and quantitative assessment of bottom features, debris, and fish at GRNMS. The limited visibility, sensitivity of sessile biota, and linear nature of ledge habitats greatly diminish the utility of other sampling techniques. Ledges should receive the bulk of future characterization effort due to their importance to the sanctuary and high variability in physical structure, benthic composition, and fish assemblages. (PDF contains 107 pages.)

Description: Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment

Description: (PDF contains 3 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 2 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 3 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 4 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 5 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 5 pages.)

Description: (PDF contains 82 pages.)

Description: Nearshore Sportfish Habitat Enhancement Program

Description: Executive Summary:Information found in this report covers the years 1986 through 2005. Mussel Watch began monitoring a suite of trace metals and organic contaminants such as DDT, PCBs and PAHs. Through time additional chemicals were added, and today approximately 140 analytes are monitored. The Mussel Watch Program is the longest running estuarine and coastal pollutant monitoring effort conducted in the United States that is national in scope each year. Hundreds of scientific journal articles and technical reports based on Mussel Watch data have been written; however, this report is the first that presents local, regional and national findingsacross all years in a Quick Reference format, suitable for use by policy makers, scientists, resource managers and the general public.Pollution often starts at the local scale where high concentrations point to a specific source of contamination, yet some contaminants such as PCBs are atmospherically transported across regional and national scales, resulting in contamination far from their origin. Findings presented here showed few national trends for trace metals and decreasing trends for most organic contaminants; however, a wide variety of trends, both increasing and decreasing, emerge at regional and local levels. For most organic contaminants, trends have resulted from state andfederal regulation. The highest concentrations for both metal and organic contaminants are found near urban and industrial areas.In addition to monitoring throughout the nation’s coastal shores and Great Lakes, Mussel Watch samples are stored in a specimen bank so that trends can be determined retrospectively for new and emerging contaminants ofconcern. For example, there is heightened awareness of a group of flame retardants that are finding their way into the marine environment. These compounds, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are now being studied using historic samples from the specimen bank and current samples to determine their spatial distribution. We will continue to use this kind of investigation to assess new contaminant threats.We hope you find this document to be valuable, and thatyou continue to look towards the Mussel Watch Programfor information on the condition of your coastal waters. (PDF contains 118 pages)

Description: Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment

Description: Tidal creek ecosystems are the primary aquatic link between stormwater runoff form the land and estuaries. Small tidal creeks begin in upland areas and drain into larger creeks forming a network. The creeks increase in size until they join a tidal river, sound, bay, or harbor that ultimately conect to the coastal ocean. The upper regions or headwaters of tidal creeks are "first responders" to stormwater runoff and are an important habitat for evaluating the impacts of coastal development on aquatic ecosystems. (PDF contains 22 pages)

Description: Hollings Marine Laboratory

Description: This manual presents geographic information by state of occurrence, and descriptions of the socio-economic impact created by the invasion of non-indigenous and native transplanted animal species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and the coastal waters of the United States. It is not a comprehensive literature review, but rather is intended as a primer for those unfamiliar with the socio-economic impacts of invasive aquatic and marine animals. Readers should also note that the information contained in this manual is current as of its publication date. New information and new species are routinely being added to the wider literature base. Most of the information was gathered from a number of web sites maintained by government agencies, commissions, academic institutions and museums. Additional information was taken from the primary and secondary literature. This manual focuses on socio-economic consequences of invasive species. Thus, ecological impacts, when noted in the literature, are not discussed unless a connection to socio-economic factors can be made. For a majority of the species listed, either the impact of their invasion is not understood, or it is not published in sources surveyed. In the species summaries, sources of information are cited except for information from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database http://nas.er.usgs.gov. This website formed the base information used in creating tables on geographic distribution, and in many of the species summaries provided. Thus, whenever information is given without specific author/source and date citation, it has come from this comprehensive source. (PDF contains 90 pages)

Description: As a Federal trust species, the well-being of the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) population along the Eastern Seaboard is of major concern to resource users. Striped bass are an extremely valuable commercial and recreational resource. As a principal piscivore in Chesapeake Bay, striped bass directly or indirectly interact with multiple trophic levels within the ecosystem and are therefore very sensitive to biotic and abiotic ecosystem changes. For reasons that have yet to be defined, the species has a high intrinsic susceptibility to mycobacteriosis. This disease has been impacting Chesapeake Bay striped bass since at least the 1980s as indicated by archived tissue samples. However, it was not until heightened incidences of fish with skin lesions in the Pocomoke River and other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay were reported in the summer and fall of 1996 and 1997 that a great deal of public and scientific interest was stimulated about concerns for fish disease in the Bay. (PDF contains 50 pages)

Description: Didemnum sp. A is a colonial ascidian or “sea squirt” of unknown geographic origin. Colonies of Didemnum sp. A were first documented in U.S. waters in 1993 at Damariscotta River, Maine and San Francisco Bay, California. An alarming number of colonies have since been found at several locations in New England and along the West Coast of the contiguous continental United States. Originally believed to be restricted to artificial structures in nearshore habitats, such as ports and marinas, colonies of Didemnum sp. A have also been discovered on a gravel-pavement habitat on Georges Bank at depths of 40-65m. The wide distribution of Didemnum sp. A, the presence of colonies on an important offshore fishing ground, and the negative economic impacts that other species of noninidigenous ascidians have had on aquaculture operations have raised concerns about the potential impacts of Didemnum sp. A. We reviewed the available information on the biology and ecology of Didemnum sp. A and potentially closely related species to examine the environmental and socioeconomic factors that may have influenced the introduction, establishment and spread of Didemnum sp. A in U.S. waters, the potential impacts of this colonial ascidian on other organisms, aquaculture, and marine fisheries, and the possibility that it will spread to other U.S. waters. In addition, we present and discuss potential management objectives for minimizing the impacts and spread of Didemnum sp. A.Concern over the potential for Didemnum sp. A to become invasive stems from ecological traits that it shares with other invasive species, including the ability to overgrow benthic organisms, high reproductive and population growth rates, ability to spread by colony fragmentation, tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions, apparent scarcity of predators, and the ability to survive in human dominated habitats. At relatively small spatial scales, species of Didemnum and other nonindigenous ascidians have been shown to alter the abundance and composition of benthic assemblages. In addition, the Canadian aquaculture industry has reported that heavy infestations of nonindigenous ascidians result in increased handling and processing costs. Offshore fisheries may also suffer where high densities of Didemnum sp. A may alter the access of commercially important fish species to critical spawning grounds, prey items, and refugia. Because colonial ascidian larvae remain viable for only 12–24hrs, the introduction and spread of Didemnum sp. A across large distances is thought to be predominantly human mediated; hull fouling, aquaculture, and ballast water. Recent studies suggest that colony growth rates decline when temperatures exceed 21 ºC for 7 consecutive days. Similarly, water temperatures above 8 to 10 ºC are necessary for colony growth; however, colonies can survive extended periods of time below this temperature threshold as an unidentified overwintering form.A qualitative analysis of monthly mean nearshore water temperatures suggest that new colonies of Didemnum will continue to be found in the Northeast U.S., California Current, and Gulf of Alaska LMEs. In contrast, water temperatures become less favorable for colony establishment in subarctic, subtropical, and tropical areas to the north and south of Didemnum’s current distribution in cool temperate habitats. We recommend that the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force serve as the central management authority to coordinate State and Federal management activities. Five objectives for a Didemnum sp. A management and control program focusing on preventing the spread of Didemnum sp. A to new areas and limiting the impacts of existing populations are discussed. Given the difficulty of eradicating large populations of Didemnum sp. A, developing strategies for limiting the access of Didemnum sp. A to transport vectors and locating newly established colonies are emphasized. (PDF contains 70 pages)

Description: From a manager’s perspective, oftentimes the publicly held concerns related to small docks and piers are not really related to the environment. They may be more related to visual impacts and aesthetic concerns, a sense of over-development of the shore, or simply change. While individuals may hold personal aesthetic values related to small docks in general or an individual structure in particular, techniques have evolved that appear to provide reproducible, predictive assessments of the visual impacts and aesthetic values of an area and how those might change with development, including an increase in numbers of small docks. These assessments may be used to develop regulatory or non-regulatory methods for the management of small docks based on state or community standards.Visual impact assessments are increasingly used in the regulatory review of proposed development—although this process is still in its infancy as regards small docks and piers. Some political jurisdictions have established visual impact or aesthetic standards as relate to docks and others are in the process of investigating how to go about such an effort. (PDF contains 42 pages)

Description: Executive Summary:For over three decades, scientists have been documenting the decline of coral reef ecosystems, amid increasing recognition of their value in supporting high biological diversity and their many benefits to human society. Coral reef ecosystems are recognized for their benefits on many levels, such as supporting economies by nurturing fisheries and providing for recreational and tourism opportunities, providing substances useful for medical purposes, performing essential ecosystem services that protect against coastal erosion, and provid-ing a diversity of other, more intangible contributions to many cultures. In the past decade, the increased awareness regarding coral reefs has prompted action by governmental and non-governmental organizations, including increased funding from the U.S. Congress for conservation of these important ecosystems and creation of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) to coordinate activities and implement conservation measures [Presidential Executive Order 13089].Numerous partnerships forged among Federal agencies and state, local, non-governmental, academic and private partners support activities that range from basic science to systematic monitoring of ecosystem com-ponents and are conducted by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and the private sector. This report shares the results of many of these efforts in the framework of a broad assessment of the condition of coral reef ecosystems across 14 U.S. jurisdictions and Pacific Freely Associated States. This report relies heavily on quantitative, spatially-explicit data that has been collected in the recent past and comparisons with historical data, where possible. The success of this effort can be attributed to the dedication of over 160 report contributors who comprised the expert writing teams for each jurisdiction. The content of the report chapters are the result of their considerable collaborative efforts.The writing teams, which were organized by jurisdiction and comprised of experts from numerous research and management institutions, were provided a basic chapter outline and a length limit, but the content of each chapter was left entirely to their discretion. Each jurisdictional chapter in the report is structured to: 1) describe how each of the primary threats identified in the National Coral Reef Action Strategy (NCRAS) has manifested in the jurisdiction; 2) introduce ongoing monitoring and assessment activities relative to three major categories of inquiry – water quality, benthic habitats, and associated biological communities – and provide summary results in a data-rich format; and 3) highlight recent management activities that promote conservation of coral reef ecosystems.

Description: An extensive study of fishing activity stemming from privately-owned boats was conducted during 1981 in order to determine the magnitude and impact of this segment of southern California's marine sport fishery. Anglers and divers returning from fishing trips were interviewed at launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat-rental facilities from Pt. Conception to the Mexican border. Information on fishing catch and effort was used to calculate statistical estimatesof total catch, total effort, catch of preferred sportfish species, and compliance rates for legal minimumsize limits.An estimated 1,013,000 organisms were landed during355,000 fishing trips. The major components of thisyear's catch were 1) Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 231,000 landed; 2) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 157,000 landed; 3) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 148,000 landed; and 4) rockfish, Sebastes spp., 142,000 landed. These fishes contributed two-thirds of the total catch.This year anglers were favored by mild weather andthe summertime appearance of migratory game fishes,resulting in higher than usual effort levels andabove average catch rates for favored game species. (81pp.)

Description: Hard bottom substrate provides habitat for a multitude of marine fishes, invertebrates, and plants - particularly giant kelp - which are of direct and indirect importance to sport and commercial fisheries. These reefs also enhanceesthetic uses of the marine environment. This document sets forth the plan of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) for the construction of artificial reefs.The plan includes an outline for defining the purpose of reef construction, gathering information pertinent to reef placement and design, selecting a reef site, preparing a project narrative, obtaining permits and approvals for reef construction, developing a general permit for reef construction, and establishing a system of fisheries habitat enhancement areas. Procedures for constructing and mappingreefs are discussed and an outline for conducting short- and long-term biological studies of reef communities is presented.Since 1958, CDFG has constructed 31 reefs off southern California. Thirteen of the largest and most frequently used reefs were mapped using hydroacoustic and radio-locating techniques. Maps of these reefs were published in a 1989 CDFG booklet entitled "A Guide to the Artificial Reefs of Southern California".Since 1978, seven developmental reefs have been constructed: 1) Pendleton Artificial Reef (1980) - San Diego County; 2) Pitas Point Artificial Reef (1984) Ventura County; 3) Marina Del Rey Artificial Reef (1985) - Los Angeles County; 4)Oceanside Artificial Reef (1987) - San Diego County; 5) Pacific Beach Artificial Reef (1987) - San Diego County; 6) Santa Monica Artificial Reef (1987) - LosAngeles County; and 7) Topanga Artificial Reef (1987) - Los Angeles County. These reefs were built to improve habitat for sport fishes and associated fauna and to evaluate the enhancement characteristics of reefs related to geographiclocation, depth, height, rock size, and reef spacing.Short-term studies revealed that all reefs have provided shelter, food, nesting, and nursery areas for important fish species and have increased sport fishing opportunities. Furthermore, giant kelp has been observed on all reefs built at suitable depths. More extensive long-term studies are planned in 1998 when reef communities will be at successional equilibrium. These studies will provideadditional information concerning the long-term potential of artificial reefs as habitat for sport fish, invertebrates, and plants.The plan discusses different types of man-made reefs, including developmental, production, and fishing access reefs, and provides examples of each. It documentsCDFG policy regarding the use of reefs as mitigation for impacts on rocky habitat and kelp. It also documents the laws authorizing CDFG to administer reef construction and studies in California. The activities involved in designing,permitting, constructing, and evaluating Pendleton Artificial Reef are provided as an example of the reef building and study process.A list of reefs is provided to document the location, depth, area, materials, and funding sources for all reefs constructed and/or augmented in California. (85pp.)

Description: The catch landed and effort expended by private-boatsport fishermen was studied in Los Angeles Countybetween October and December 1980, in order todetermine the impact of one segment of the sportfishery on local marine resources. Fishermenreturning from fishing trips were interviewed atlaunch ramps, hoists, and boat rental facilities.This report contains quantitative data and statisticalestimates of total effort, total catch, catch ofpreferred species, and length frequencies for thosespecies whose catches are regulated by minimum sizelimits.An estimated 94,000 organisms were landed by 22,000anglers and 1,200 divers. The major components of thecatch were Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 29,000landed; white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 17,500landed; and Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 11,500landed. These three species comprised two-thirds ofthe total catch.Anglers' compliance with size limit regulations wasvariable. Nearly 80% of all measured bass, Paralabraxspp., were legal size, but only 50% of the Californiahalibut, Paralichthys californicus, were legal size.Divers showed much better compliance with the sizelimit regulations: 96% of all California spinylobsters, Panulirus interruptus, were legal size. (14pp.)

Description: State law requires that the population of Pacific sardines,Sardinops sagax caeruleus, must reach a minimum spawningbiomass of 20,000 short tons before initiation of a fishery.Data from ichthyoplankton surveys, the anchovy live baitfishery, sea survey cruises, and the mackerel purse seinefishery are analyzed for evidence of an increase inpopulation size. Presently, the spawning biomass of thenorthern stock of sardines remains far below 20,000 tons. (9pp.)

Description: The objectives of our fish and bivalve study are:1. Determine changes in the number of species of fishand bivalves before Phase I and during Phase I atBolsa Chica Marsh.2. Determine if California Department of Fish and Game'spredicted benefits in Phase I were achieved by increasesin fish species.3. Determine influences of water management practicesupon fish and bivalve composition.Nine species of fish and three species of bivalves werecollected above the tide gates. Goldfish, Carassius auratus;shiner surfperch, Cymatogaster aggregata; queenfish, Seriphus politus; and California jackknife clam, Tagelus californianus have not been reported previously from above the tide gates. Five species of fish and four species of bivalves were collected below the tide gates. Striped bass, Roccus saxatilis; and cheekspot goby, Ilypnus gilberti have not been reported previously from below the tide gates. (8pp.)

Description: The objectives of our fish and bivalve study are:1. Determine changes in the number of species of fishand bivalves before Phase I and during Phase 1 atBolsa Chica Marsh.2. Determine if California Department of Fish and Game'spredicted benefits in Phase I were achieved by increasesin fish species.3. Determine influences of water management practicesupon fish and bivalve composition.Thirteen species of fish and five species of bivalveswere collected from Inner Bolsa Bay and South Bolsa Slough.Deepbody anchovy, Anchoa compressa; jacksmelt, Atherinopsiscaliforniensis; longjaw mudsucker, Gillichthys mirabilis;specklefin midshipman, Porichthys myriaster; round stingray,Urolophus halleri; banded chione, Chione californiensis;bentnose clam, Macoma nasuta; and common littleneck clam,Protothaca staminea have not been reported previously fromInner Bolsa Bay. Nine species of fish and four species ofbivalves were collected from outer Bolsa Bay. Yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus; longjaw mudsucker; tilapia, Tilapia mossambica; and bay pipefish, Syngnathus leptorhynchus have not been reported previously from Outer Bolsa Bay. (11pp.)

Description: Despite efforts to manage it, the California barracuda,Sphyraena argentea, resource has exhibited a marked declinein abundance from levels exhibited prior to 1950. This paperpresents a history of the California barracuda fisheries, asummary of its life history and population dynamics; and anevaluation of the resource under current management practices and recommendations for improvements in current management.Evaluation of the current status of the resource indicatesits abundance off southern California is low but slowlyimproving with a marked improvement in size composition.Management recommendations, when adopted, should help increase the rate of recovery of the California barracuda resource. (73pp.)

Description: Previous studies suggest that ocean anglers are unableto identify many common marine fishes and that they frequently use nondesignated common names for those fisheswith which they are familiar.This paper discusses the ability of the anglers andcrew aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels (CPFV) toidentify 22 fishes caught off southern California and relates this ability to fishing experience and frequency. Implications to resource management are also discussed.Most CPFV anglers were inexperienced and could identifyonly a few of the species. However, as experience increased,the scores improved. Vessel crew members scored higher thanthe most experienced anglers.The inability of anglers to identify marine fishes andthe widespread use of nondesignated and often confusingcommon names help to explain why some fishery managementregulations of the California Department of Fish and Gameare relatively ineffective. (37pp.)

Description: A 1-yr. study was undertaken to devise a sampling programwhich would determine fishing catch and effort levels ofone segment of the southern California marine sportfishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conductedat launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locationsfrom Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. Thisreport presents quantitative data and statisticalestimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferredsport fish species, and length frequencies of selectedspecies landed by private-boat sport fishermen.An estimated 55,000 anglers and 3,300 divers landed 182,000fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major componentsof the catch were 1) rockfishes, Sebastes spp., 73,000landed; 2) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 28,000landed; 3) bass, Paralabrax spp., 15,000 landed; and4) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 12,000 landed. (22pp.)

Description: A 1-yr. study was undertaken to devise a sampling programwhich would determine fishing catch and effort levels ofone segment of the southern California marine sportfishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conductedat launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locationsfrom Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. Thisreport presents quantitative data and statistical estimatesof effort, total catch, catch of preferred sport fishspecies, and length frequencies of selected specieslanded by private-boat sport fishermen.An estimated 102,000 anglers and 3,700 divers landed 275,000fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major componentsof the catch were 1) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus,85,000 landed; 2) bass, Paralabrax spp., 48,000 landed; and3) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 42,000 landed. (22pp.)

Description: Anglers frequently violate sport fishing regulations out ofignorance, by mistake, or by deliberate action. To determinewhether unfamiliarity with the regulations plays a major part in this problem, we asked anglers on privately-owned,trailerable boats at launch ramps and boat hoists a series of questions which tested their knowledge of the regulations.We found that on any winter weekend about 30% of the anglerson private-boats knew none of the size limits, 50% knew atleast three of the six size limits, and 4% knew all of thesize limits. Only about 25% of the anglers kept a copy ofthe regulations on their boats for reference when fishing.The results of the survey indicate that greater effort mustbe expended to familiarize sport fishermen with the fishingregulations. (9pp.)

Description: A 1-yr. study was undertaken to devise a sampling programwhich would determine fishing catch and effort levels ofone segment of the southern California marine sportfishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conductedat launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locationsfrom Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. Thisreport presents quantitative data and statisticalestimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferredsport fish species, and length frequencies of selectedspecies landed by private-boat sport fishermen.An estimated 107,000 anglers and 5,300 divers landed 307,000fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major componentsof the catch were 1) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus,87,000 landed; 2) bass, Paralabrax spp., 30,000 landed; and3) Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 21,000 landed. (24pp.)

Description: State law requires that the population of Pacificsardines, Sardinops sagax caeruleus, must reach aminimum spawning biomass of 20,O0O short tons beforeinitiation of a fishery. Data from ichthyoplanktonsurveys, the anchovy live bait fishery, sea surveycruises, and the jack mackerel purse seine fisheryare analyzed for evidence of an increase inpopulation size. Presently, the spawning biomassof the northern stock of sardines remains far below20,000 tons. (9pp.)

Description: During the October 1 - December 31, 1977 quarter, 28launch ramps, hoists, and boat rental locations weresampled a total of 294 times. During the sample days11,942 anglers and 1,025 divers were interviewed.They expended 83,882 effort-hours and landed 36,741fishes and other organisms of 163 identified species.The ten most commonly landed species were 1) Pacificmackerel, Scomber japonicus, 16%; 2) white croaker,Genyonemus lineatus, 16%; 3) olive rockfish, Sebastesserranoides, 6%; 4) blue rockfish, S. mystinus, 4%;5) halfmoon, Medialuna californiensis, 4%; 6) Pacificbonito, Sarda chiliensis, 3%; 7) rock scallop,Hinnites multirugosus, 2%; 8) chilipepper, Sebastesgoodei, 2%; 9) greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus,2%; and 10) kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, 2%. (25pp.)

Description: Between October 1 and December 31, 1978, Departmental personnel sampled catches during 132 trips aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels (partyboats) operating in southern California. A total of 25,571 fishes belonging to 87 species were identified and measured.In addition, six long-range trips originating in San Diego and fishing in Mexican waters were sampled. A total of 1,225 fishes comprising 20 species was identified and measured at dockside from these vessels.The 10 most commonly taken species during the quarter accounted for 76.3% of the southern California catch. The most frequently sampled species were bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis (24.7%); Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (15.8%); chilipepper, Sebastes goodei (8.7%); kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (7.4%); Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis (5.7%); olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides (4.1%); blue rockfish, S. mystinus (4.0%); squarespot rockfish, S. hopkinsi (2.1%); greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus (2.l%); and vermilion rockfish, S. miniatus (1.9%). Samples gathered from long-range trips showed thetop five species accounted for 90.4% of the fishes sampled. The most frequently sampled species were yellowtail, Seriola lalandi (28.8%); yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares (20.7%); wahoo, Acanthocybiumsolanderi (16.2%); snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus (12.4%); and dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus (12.3%).December marked the final month in which partyboats were sampled off southern California. (69pp.)

Description: For the second consecutive year, a program of randomfield sampling of anglers and divers fishing fromprivately owned boats was conducted at southernCalifornia launch ramps, hoists, and boat rentalfacilities. This study presents quantitative dataand statistical estimates of effort, total catch,catch of preferred sport fish species, and lengthfrequencies of particular species landed by privateboat sport fishermen. An assessment of sportfishermen's compliance with current fishingregulations is also included.Catch composition and effort levels variedconsiderably among the five counties sampled,reflecting differences in water temperature,offshore habitat, and preferences for particularspecies by local fishermen. A comparison of thisyear's results with those of last year showed thatalthough catch rates for some species were similarboth years, others diverged considerably. (84pp.)

Description: For the third consecutive year a program of random fieldsampling of anglers and divers fishing from privatelyowned boats was conducted at southern California launchramps, hoists, and boat rental facilities. This studypresents quantitative data and statistical estimates ofeffort, total catch, catch of preferred sport fishspecies, and length frequencies of particular specieslanded by private boat sport fishermen. An assessment ofsport fishermen's compliance with current fishingregulations is included along with an estimate of thenumber of anglers who returned empty-handed.Catch composition and effort levels varied considerablyamong the five counties sampled, reflecting differencesin water temperature, offshore habitat, and preferencesfor particular species by local fishermen. A comparisonof this year's results with those of last year showedthat angler effort dropped 16% and angler catch dropped15%, while diver effort and catch dropped 18% and 9%respectively. This reduction is attributed to the recordamounts of rainfall in southern California which severelycurtailed fishing activity during four months of the year. (105pp.)

Description: A 1-yr study was undertaken to devise a sampling programwhich would determine fishing catch and effort levels ofone segment of the southern California marine sportfishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conductedat launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locationsfrom Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. Thisreport presents quantitative data and statisticalestimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferredsport fish species, and length frequencies of selectedspecies landed by private-boat sport fishermen.An estimated 52,000 anglers and 4,300 divers landed179,000 fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The majorcomponents of the catch were 1) rockfishes, Sebastes spp.,68,000 landed; 2) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus,38,000 landed; and 3) bass, Paralabrax spp., 13,000landed. (21pp.)

Description: During the April 1 - June 30, 1978 quarter, 29 launchramps, hoists, and boat rental locations weresampled a total of 307 times. During the sample days15,220 anglers and 685 divers were interviewed. Theyexpended 107,738 effort-hours and landed 38,132 fishesand other organisms of 146 identified species.The ten most commonly landed species were 1) whitecroaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 30%; 2) Pacific mackerel,Scomber japonicus, 11%; 3) kelp bass, Paralabraxclathratus, 9%; 4) barred sand bass, P. nebulifer, 4%;5) blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, 2%; 6) bocaccio,S. paucispinis, 2%; 7) olive rockfish, S. serranoides,2%; 8) brown rockfish, S. auriculatus, 2%; 9) Pacificsanddab, Citharichthys sordidus, 2%; and 10) blacksurfperch, Embiotoca jacksoni, 2%. (26pp.)