Fish Aggregations in the Florida Keys

Fish Aggregations in the Florida Keys

Observations of Mutton Snapper on Riley s Hump Date and Station Numbers observed Moon phase 28 May 1 June 1999 1 fish in 3 of the 11 dives Full moon May 30* 31 July 3 Aug 2000 1 fish in 5 of the 6 dives New moon July 30* 17 July 2001 Station 2 10 3 days before new moon* 27 May 2002 Station 2 75-100 1 day after full moon* 15 June 2003 Station 2 75-100 1 day after full moon* 15 June 2003 Station 12 200 + 1 day after full moon* 4 July 2004 Station 12 300 2 days after full moon* 3 July 2007 Station 12 100 + 3 days after full moon** 12 June 2009 (1415-1715 hrs) ~4000 5 days after full moon*** From: Burton ML, Brennan KJ, Muñoz RC, Parker RO Jr (2005) Preliminary evidence of increased spawning aggregations of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) at Riley s Hump two years after establishment of the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve. Fish Bull 103:404 410. ** Mike Burton s Trip report *** FWC current study TNER TSER RNA

Mutton Snapper Spawning at Riley s Hump

TNER RNA TSER

Changes in Abundance and Size-structure of Mutton Snapper 2000 Tortugas North Ecological Reserve Dry Tortugas National Park Future RNA Tortugas Bank --Open-Use Area

Changes in Abundance and Size-structure of Mutton Snapper 2008 Tortugas North Ecological Reserve Dry Tortugas National Park RNA Tortugas Bank -- Open-Use Area

Tagging of Mutton Snapper Regional connectivity of fishes within the Tortugas region of Florida Listening Posts Riley s Hump is a well known mutton snapper spawning aggregation site Mutton snapper were acoustically tagged within the RNA & Riley s Hump and tracked with a network of underwater listening outposts

Tagging of Mutton Snapper 55 Mutton snapper were tagged 21 fish made multiple migratory trips to Riley s Hump 12 fish were residents of the RNA

24 30 24 35 24 40 May June July 83 05 83 00 82 55 82 50 TNER RNA DRTO TSER

Activity of Mutton Snapper at Riley s Hump Daily detection frequency Temperature (⁰C) Date

Utilization of Riley s Hump Black and Scamp Grouper Cubera Snapper Mutton Snapper

Multispecies Aggregation Site: Muttons and Triggers

Multispecies Aggregation Site: Grouper

Multispecies Aggregation Site: Cubera Snapper

Fish Aggregations, Multi-species and Predictable Species D J F M A M J J A S O N Source Black grouper Nassau grouper Domeier and Colin 1997, Eklund et al. 2000 Domeier and Colin 1997, Fine 1990, Claro et al 2009 Scamp Domeier and Colin 1997 Nassau grouper Gag grouper Red hind Goliath grouper Domeier and Colin 1997, Fine 1990, Claro et al 2009 Domeier and Colin 1997, Hood and Schlieder 1992 Domeier and Colin 1997, Beets and Friedlander 1998, Poholek, pers. com. Domeier and Colin 1997, Sadovy and Eklund 1999, NMFS 2006 Yellowtail snapper Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al 2009 Dog snapper Mutton snapper Gray snapper Lindeman et al. 2000, RNA report Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al 2009, FWC observations, RNA report Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al 2009 Schoolmaster Lindeman et al. 2000 Lane snapper Cubera snapper Permit Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al 2009, Poholek pers. com. Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et al. 2000, Heyman et al 2005, Claro et al 2009, FWC observations, RNA report Ault et al 2006, RNA report

Larval Transport in February

Larval Transport in July

Reef Fish Aggregations in the Keys

Reef Fish Aggregations in the Keys In the Upper Keys: Site Name Whistle Buoy Carysfort Watson Reef* Species Observed Cubera Snapper Black Grouper Mutton Snapper Description Several visual observations of 15-34 schooling cubera snapper (60-85 cm), June and July 2009 Several observations of 6-11 large black grouper (50-85 cm), Feb & March 2010 Visual observation of 35-45 mutton snapper (60-65 cm) swimming in water column

Reef Fish Aggregations in the Keys Site Name Species Observed Description Western Dry Rocks Mangrove Toppino Eyeglass Bar Maryland Shoal Mutton snapper, gray snapper, yellow goatfish, mahogany snapper, spadefish, striped grunts Gray snapper Gray snapper, mutton snapper Gray snapper, yellowtail snapper Dozens of mutton snapper observed by divers May 2011, observations of 38 fishing boats on site in May 2011; Hundreds to over 1000 gray snapper observed over several months (June, July, and/or August) 2010 and 2012, with additional species Over 1000 gray snapper swimming in tight school over two successive days, August 2012 Hundreds of gray snapper observed over three consecutive months (June, July, August) 2010: Fishing boats observed catching mutton snapper in May 2012, no visual observation by divers Numerous schools of 12-25 fish, large (30-50 cm) fish, swimming in close formation. Observations of 10 fishing boats (1 commercial, 9 recreational) fishing on gray snapper in July 2010

Bathemetry of Reported Aggregation Site 30m Outlier Reef 30m Ridge 36m Ridge 50m Outlier Reef 30m Outlier Reef 30 and 36 m Ridges 50m Outlier Reef Aggregation Site

Bathemetry of Known Aggregation Site Aggregation Site

Bathemetry of Known Aggregation Site Western Dry Rocks Grey Snapper aggregation Local high relief Steep slope Outlier reef Aggregation site

Grey Snapper at Mangrove Toppino Gray snapper aggregation

Closing Remarks: In Florida: No take marine reserves in Dry Tortugas have allowed for recovery of fish spawning aggregations Larvae produced there supply recruits to the rest of Florida and the SE Fish aggregations have been observed at several sites in the Florida Keys Although spawning has not been observed at these sites, we have learned today that: IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME

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