Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: We have received a third
year of funding for this research project. While analyses and interpretation of data collected
during the first two years is nearing completion, a final report is now
scheduled for 31 May 2000. An updated Quarterly Report will be submitted at that time.
Background: The Marine Ecological Reserves Research Program focuses on scientific research
being conducted within one of California's four coastal reserves. Marine fishery reserves are being
considered as a supplement to traditional fishery management throughout the world, and yet their effectiveness
is poorly understood and reserve concepts largely are untested. Big Creek Ecological Reserve (The Reserve),
closed to fishing since January 1994, affords an especially good opportunity to study the benefits of reserves to
rockfishes, and to test the impacts of fishing on biodiversity.
Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: Our overall goal was to characterize benthic fishes and their habitats
in and around the Reserve. Specific objectives included: 1) To groundtruth our interpretations of bottom types made
from a previous seafloor survey in deepwater; 2) To provide estimates of abundance and distribution of groundfish habitats;
3) To quantify fish density, size structure, species composition and richness, relative to depth and habitat; 4) To provide
accurate maps of species-habitat relationships; 5) To compare above variables between two years of increasing resource protection;
6) To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in numbers and sizes of fish between The Reserve and adjacent fished areas.
Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: All data acquisition from video-transects is complete, an extensive database
of fish species, abundance, size, and habitat associations has been produced, a detailed accurate map of benthic habitats within and around
the Reserve is complete, and final data analyses is underway. Our characterization and quantification of habitats and fish resources within
and around the Reserve is a first step in evaluating a reserve's effectiveness at maintaining and enhancing coastal fish populations, and should
generally improve the conceptual design and models for fishery reserves. Results of our study provide a valuable baseline from which to evaluate
future changes to Reserve populations of benthic fishes in deep water.
Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): This study addresses research priorities
identified by NMFS and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, such as identification, characterization, and description of essential elements of habitat
for commercially managed fish species; the use of reserves as a supplement to fisheries management; improving stock assessments by including habitat-specific
estimates of species abundances. Our results on habitats in deep water will be especially useful. A major rationale of our study is to provide information
on the relationship between fish and particular habitats so that managers will be able to ensure the continued wise management of valuable resources.
Problems: None.
Key Contact: Mary Yoklavich (831-648-9036, myoklavich@pfeg.noaa.gov).