# Presentation: 245936

## Caribbean-SEAMAP Program Reef Fish Data Analysis Survey

**Final Report****October 15, 2002**
**Francisco E. Pagán**
**University of Puerto Rico**
**Marine Sciences Department**

## Introduction

- 1991-1992: a fishery-independent survey has been carried out in the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands .
- The information gathered can be used to ascertain trends, determine potential causes of changes, and react responsibly to address them, for a more effective regulatory program.
- The following report is the result of a quality control evaluation of the datasets and an analysis of the independent reef fish data collected using traps and hand lines in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands since 1991.

## Table I: Cruises for the SEAMAP – C for the 1991 – 2000 period, use in this study. 

| Year | Zone | Vessel | Cruise  | Start Date | End Date | Title |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1991 | PR | 56 | 911 | 17-Sep-91 | 19-Dec-91 | 1991 PR Caribbean Cruise |
| 1991 | PR | 57 | 912 | 17-Sep-91 | 25-Sep-91 | 1991 PR Caribbean Cruise |
| 1992 | PR | 56 | 921 | 22-Jan-92 | 24-Jun-92 | 1992 PR Caribbean Cruise 1st Half |
| 1992 | PR | 56 | 922 | 24-Jun-92 | 1-Oct-92 | 1992 PR Caribbean Cruise 2nd Half |
| 1992 | PR | 57 | 922 | 1-Jun-92 | 16-Nov-92 | 1992 PR Caribbean Cruise |
| 1993 | PR | 56 | 931 | 2-Mar-93 | 5-Aug-93 | 1993 PR Caribbean Cruise 1st Half |
| 1993 | PR | 56 | 932 | 5-Aug-93 | 22-Dec-93 | 1993 PR Caribbean Cruise 2nd Half |
| 1993 | PR | 57 | 932 | 16-Mar-93 | 25-May-93 | 1993 PR Caribbean Cruise 1st Half |
| 1993 | PR | 57 | 933 | 25-May-93 | 10-Nov-93 | 1993 PR Caribbean Cruise 2nd Half |
| 1994 | PR | 56 | 941 | 18-Jan-94 | 22-Feb-94 | 1994 PR Caribbean Cruise |
| 1994 | PR | 57 | 942 | 30-Mar-94 | 22-Jun-94 | 1994 PR Caribbean Survey 1st Half |
| 1994 | PR | 57 | 943 | 22-Jun-94 | 22-Dec-94 | 1994 PR Caribbean 2nd Half |
| 1995 | PR | 57 | 952 | 11-Jan-94 | 30-Mar-94 | 1995 PR Caribbean Cruise |
| 1992 | VI | 58 | 922 | 27-Oct-92 | 1-Dec-92 | 1992 VI Reeffish |
| 1992 | VI | 59 | 922 | 21-Oct-92 | 21-Oct-92 | 1992 VI Reeffish |
| 1993 | VI | 58 | 931 | 21-Sep-93 | 21-Sep-93 | 1993 VI Reeffish |
| 1993 | VI | 59 | 932 | 23-Sep-93 | 15-Dec-93 | 1993 VI Reeffish |
| 1993 | VI | 60 | 932 | 14-Dec-93 | 24-Dec-93 | 1993 VI Reeffish |
| 1994 | VI | 59 | 941 | 18-Jan-94 | 4-Mar-94 | 1994 VI Reeffish |
| 1994 | VI | 60 | 941 | 11-Feb-94 | 11-Feb-94 | 1994 VI Reeffish |
| 1999 | VI | 60 | 991 | 31-Aug-99 | 14-Oct-99 | 1999 VI Reeffish |
| 2000 | VI | 60 | 001 | 13-Jan-00 | 4-Apr-00 | 2000 VI Reeffish |

## Slide 4

## Slide 5

## Slide 6

## Datasets Descriptions 

- Datasets for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Pascagoula Laboratory.
- These consisted of four files: statcard.dbf, reefrwk.dbf, binvrwk.dbf and bgsrwk.dbf
- These files consist of data entered through the SEAMAP DMS Entry/Edit module and were converted and edited with the Microsoft EXCEL program, as requested by the program narrative.

## Dataset Verification Procedure 

- Consistency verification of fields was achieved through a two-step process.
- This study adds to the verification process by comparing and reviewing the different variables to its possible local values according to the NMFS Pascagoula Form Sheets.

## Verification Results 

**STATCARD.DBF**
- Commentaries include traps lost, fish releases and aggregations, and cancellation events.
- Noted is the use of two different mesh types during the 942 cruise.
- Of particular interest is the non random distribution of sampling stations in the area directly west of Puerto Rico.
- Also some samples for the U.S. Virgin Islands were taken outside the sampling area.

## Verification Results (cont.)

**BINVWRK.DBF**
- All faunal zones were changed to 24, including missing values for the U.S. Virgin Islands; according to the NMFS verification manual.
- A gear value was changed from GR to TR  matching the station description of the gear used.
- Fishing time for some gears is noted as unusual: 28 to 90 minutes for Hand Lines, and 18 minutes for traps.
- Verification against the hard copies is suggested.

## Verification Results (cont.)

**BGSWRK.DBF**
- Unusual values were found for the ID field in this dataset (cruise 991, vessel 60, station 8).
- Empty fields for count were filled with the respective value taken from countextr, also empty fields were replaced with 0.0 value for internal consistency .
- Some missing biocodes for the species *C. senden* (cruise 991 vessel 60 station 8) and *C. calamu* (cruise 991 vessel 60 station 20) were completed.
- Verification against the hard copies is suggested.

## Verification Results (cont.)

**REEFWRK.DBF**
- Missing values for the sample-sex field were changed to U (undefined).
*Calamus* *calamus* biocodes were missing for two specimens (cruise 991, vessel 60, station 20); the fields were filled with the corresponding values.
*C. fulva* (cruise 952, vessel 57, station 220) length changed from 1800mm to 180mm (weight 0.088 kg).
*A. bahian* (cruise 952, vessel 57, station 328) length changed from 1483mm to 148mm (weight 0.072 kg).
- Verification against the hard copies is suggested.

## Verification Results (cont.)

**REEFWRK.DBF** (cont.)
- Graphical observations and regression analysis of the length – weight relationships of the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 1992 – 2000 sampling period, suggested a potential difference in weight measurement scales (lbs vs. kg).
- This was verified by the U.S.V.I. SEAMAP – C personnel. The weight data for the 991 and 001 cruises were changed accordingly into kilograms in both the reefwrk and binvwrk data files. There were some observed differences between the type of length measurements made for some species of P.R. and U.S.V.I.

## Datasets Analysis 

**Numerical analysis** were done during the verification process.
**Number of sampling events**: to explore evenness of the sampling process, some adjusted parameters were calculated (number of gears deployed per day and number of traps per deployed hand line).
**Puerto Rico**: the total number of days at sea is highly variable, with a very high standard deviation compared to the mean values (0.6). Results suggest that fishing effort from traps and hand lines should be analyzed separately for a more accurate assessment of the fisheries.

## Slide 15

| Year | Cruise | Days at sea |  | Gear Type | Deployments |  | Gears/Day |  | Traps/Line |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | ID | Year | Cruise |  | Year | Cruise | Year | Cruise | Year | Cruise |
| 1991 | 911 | 31 | 26 | HL   | 93 | 78 | 3.00 | 3.00 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   | 426 | 339 | 13.74 | 13.04 | 4.58 | 4.35 |
|  | 912 |  | 5 | HL   |  | 15 |  | 3.00 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 87 |  | 17.40 |  | 5.80 |
| 1992 | 921 | 108 | 53 | HL   | 353 | 158 | 3.27 | 2.98 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   | 984 | 442 | 9.11 | 8.34 | 2.79 | 2.80 |
|  | 922 |  | 55 | HL   |  | 195 |  | 3.55 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 542 |  | 9.85 |  | 2.78 |
| 1993 | 931 | 131 | 36 | HL   | 390 | 108 | 2.98 | 3.00 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   | 1833 | 492 | 13.99 | 13.67 | 4.70 | 4.56 |
|  | 932 |  | 62 | HL   |  | 179 |  | 2.89 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 883 |  | 14.24 |  | 4.93 |
|  | 933 |  | 33 | HL   |  | 103 |  | 3.12 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 458 |  | 13.88 |  | 4.45 |
| 1994 | 941 | 107 | 13 | HL   | 350 | 50 | 3.27 | 3.85 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   | 914 | 120 | 8.54 | 9.23 | 2.61 | 2.40 |
|  | 942 |  | 27 | HL   |  | 98 |  | 3.63 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 401 |  | 14.85 |  | 4.09 |
|  | 943 |  | 67 | HL   |  | 202 |  | 3.01 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   |  | 393 |  | 5.87 |  | 1.95 |
| 1995 | 952 | 26 | 26 | HL   | 82 | 82 | 3.15 | 3.15 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR   | 268 | 268 | 10.31 | 10.31 | 3.27 | 3.27 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mean |  | 80.60 | 36.64 |  |  |  |  |  | 3.59 | 3.76 |
| Std.  |  | 48.55 | 20.16 |  |  |  |  |  | 0.99 | 1.20 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Total |  | 403 | 403 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Slide 16

| Year | Cruise | Days at sea |  | Gear | Deployments |  | Gears/Day |  | Traps/Line |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  | Year | Cruise | Type | Year | Cruise | Year | Cruise | Year | Cruise |
| 1992 | 922 | 5 | 5 | HL | 19 | 19 | 3.80 | 3.80 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR | 60 | 60 | 12.00 | 12.00 | 3.16 | 3.16 |
| 1993 | 931 | 6 | 2 | HL | 15 | 3 | 2.50 | 1.50 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR | 55 | 13 | 9.17 | 6.50 | 3.67 | 4.33 |
|  | 932 |  | 4 | HL |  | 12 |  | 3.00 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR |  | 42 |  | 10.50 |  | 3.50 |
| 1994 | 941 | 9 | 9 | HL | 24 | 24 | 2.67 | 2.67 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TR | 98 | 98 | 10.89 | 10.89 | 4.08 | 4.08 |
| 1999 | 991 | 6 | 6 | HLTR | 4 | 4 | 0.67 | 0.67 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TRHL | 82 | 82 | 13.67 | 13.67 | 20.50 | 20.50 |
| 2000 | 001 | 10 | 10 | HLTR | 10 | 10 | 1.00 | 1.00 |  |  |
|  |  |  |  | TRHL | 117 | 117 | 11.70 | 11.70 | 11.70 | 11.70 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mean |  | 7.20 | 6.00 |  |  |  |  |  | 8.62 | 7.88 |
| Std. |  | 2.17 | 3.03 |  |  |  |  |  | 7.51 | 6.96 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Total |  | 36 | 36 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Datasets Analysis (cont.)

**U.S. Virgin Islands**: the days at sea are less variable compared to P.R. Inconsistencies were encountered during the verification process. A change in value for the hand line size was noted.
- Results suggest that the fishing efforts from traps and hand lines should be analyzed separately. The gear size difference from the station and inventory data files should be addressed for a more accurate assessment of the fisheries.

## Recommendations

- Definition of effort issues.
- Puerto Rico trap mesh size was change to a 1.5 square vinyl coated wire from cruise 942.
- No changes in mesh size were reported for U.S.V.I.
- Increasing changes in Hand Lines size from 1 to 6 in U.S.V.I. Hand lines events for cruise 001 change from 10 to 60.
-  Variable fishing time values with high standard deviations both for P.R. and U.S.V.I. cruises.

## Fishing Times for Puerto Rico

|  | Hand | Lines |  | Traps |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cruise | Mean | Std. | N | Mean | Std. | N |
| 911 | 262.50 | 37.54 | 76 | 323.11 | 26.44 | 341 |
| 912 | 256.40 | 25.43 | 15 | 369.76 | 53.25 | 87 |
| 921 | 296.16 | 16.82 | 155 | 322.13 | 20.42 | 445 |
| 922 | 285.26 | 34.00 | 193 | 298.14 | 47.73 | 544 |
| 931 | 284.66 | 22.91 | 109 | 315.29 | 23.46 | 491 |
| 932 | 290.83 | 27.59 | 179 | 325.69 | 30.97 | 880 |
| 933 | 294.40 | 16.09 | 106 | 330.64 | 29.19 | 455 |
| 941 | 332.40 | 33.11 | 50 | 345.25 | 42.52 | 120 |
| 942 | 277.69 | 28.99 | 98 | 323.30 | 28.55 | 401 |
| 943 | 298.03 | 23.74 | 202 | 317.06 | 17.52 | 393 |
| 952 | 269.41 | 59.08 | 82 | 308.09 | 19.61 | 268 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mean/Std. | 286.16 | 20.66 |  | 325.31 | 19.04 |  |

## Fishing Times for U.S. Virgin Islands 

|  | Hand | Lines |  | Traps |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cruise | Mean | Std. | N | Mean | Std. | N |
| 922 | 312.63 | 39.14 | 19 | 363.00 | 20.07 | 60 |
| 931 | 225.00 | 0.00 | 3 | 240.00 | 0.00 | 13 |
| 932 | 245.00 | 9.05 | 12 | 261.43 | 12.01 | 42 |
| 941 | 227.33 | 26.60 | 24 | 253.59 | 15.98 | 98 |
| 991 | 285.00 | 30.74 | 11 | 340.27 | 28.38 | 73 |
| 001 | 324.00 | 26.65 | 10 | 351.21 | 19.39 | 116 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mean/Std. | 269.83 | 43.43 |  | 301.58 | 55.57 |  |

## Recommendations (cont.)

- Sampling distribution is not exactly random. For Puerto Rico, reef and aggregation areas have a higher concentration of “stations” allocated.
- It is not clear what the definition of station is, as design, a station should have between 12 and 21 traps (in strings of 3 traps) and around 3 hand lines. In the datasets, they appear to represent an individual trap or hand line.

## Recommendations (cont.)

- Greatest problem is determining what constitutes a “cruise”. This was notable in the P.R. data – e.g. Table I list 5 consecutive “years” of sampling, but real sampling is done for only 3 years on two years off. However, these years are not calendar years, but funding years. Thus, only three years of data are represented as five. Consequently, any analysis based on year is potentially flawed.

## Recommendations (cont.)

- Separation of the data collected using Hand Lines and Traps:
- Development of a proprietary program
- Approaching the NMFS Oracle datacenter and requesting a new data output format
- This should be considered a priority due to the variable effort in time and space applied to the areas, and should be realized before any attempt to assess the adequacy of the sampling strategy.
- The effective sampling differs from the theoretical design, at least in the number of hand lines versus the number of traps.

## Recommendations (cont.)

- If any modification  the data is considered,  that all the information should be stored in one data file.
- Data manipulation would be easier and it will eliminate the need for cross referencing information between different sources.
- Transfer the datasets to a Geographical Information System (GIS) format.
- This would permit managing and analyzing the collected data spatially. Also, it would aid in  the development of a Habitat Map of the study area.

## Recommendations (cont.)

- The data collected during these sampling periods should be used for length – frequency studies of the more numerically abundant species.
- U.S.V.I. the number of species for which this can be done is limited.
- Other population studies should be considered.

## Acknowledgements

- I wish to thanks all those who contributed to the completion of this report, particularly to Mr. Idelfonso Ruiz Valentín and Mr. Edgardo Ojeda Serrano. Also, the analyses in this report were enhanced by discussions with Ph. D. Richard Appeldoorn to whom I extend my deepest gratitude.

## QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS