Stock assessment surveys of marine preserves and control sites

Gutierrez, Jay

During FY99, baseline data was collected at the Piti Bomb Holes Preserve, Achang Reef Flat Preserve and their control sites. Strip transects, 50m x 50m, were laid out on the reef flats and the fore reef slopes at each site. Transects on the reef flats were divided into the following catagories: sandy bottom; seagrass beds; and coral/rubble habitats. Transects on the fore reef slopes were divided into 20, 30, 40, and 50 ft. depth habitats. Two divers, one on each side of the tape, moved along transects to record the number and sizes of important food fishes, butterflyfishes, and visually obvious fishes. Thirty-minute interval counts were conducted on the reef flats and fore reef slopes at each site. Interval counts on the reef flats and fore reef slopes were divided into the above-mentioned habitat types. Video transects for substrate cover were conducted on the fore reef slopes of Piti Bomb Holes Preserve and Asan control sites. Video transects on the fore reef slopes were divided into the above-mentioned habitat types.