Fish Aggregations in the Florida Keys Observations of Mutton Snapper on Riley’S Hump
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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 TNER evidence of increased spawning aggregations of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) RNA at Riley’s Hump two years after establishment of the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve. Fish Bull 103:404–410. ** Mike Burton’s Trip report TSER *** FWC current study 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 • Listening Posts . Regional connectivity of fishes within the Tortugas region of Florida – 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 May June July 83° 05’ 83° 00’ 82° 55’ 82° 50’ TNER DRTO RNA 40’ ° 24 35’ ° 24 30’ ° 24 TSER Activity of Mutton Snapper at Riley’s Hump C) ⁰ Temperature ( Temperature Daily detection frequency detection Daily Date Utilization of Riley’s Hump Black and Scamp Grouper Mutton Snapper Cubera 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 Domeier and Colin 1997, Eklund et al. Black grouper 2000 Domeier and Colin 1997, Fine 1990, Nassau grouper Claro et al 2009 Scamp Domeier and Colin 1997 Domeier and Colin 1997, Fine 1990, Nassau grouper Claro et al 2009 Domeier and Colin 1997, Hood and Gag grouper Schlieder 1992 Domeier and Colin 1997, Beets and Red hind Friedlander 1998, Poholek, pers. com. Domeier and Colin 1997, Sadovy and Goliath grouper Eklund 1999, NMFS 2006 Yellowtail snapper Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al 2009 Dog snapper Lindeman et al. 2000, RNA report Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et Mutton snapper al. 2000, Claro et al 2009, FWC observations, RNA report Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et Gray snapper al. 2000, Claro et al 2009 Schoolmaster Lindeman et al. 2000 Lindeman et al. 2000, Claro et al Lane snapper 2009, Poholek pers. com. Domeier and Colin 1997, Lindeman et al. 2000, Heyman et al 2005, Claro et Cubera snapper al 2009, FWC observations, RNA report Permit 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 Species Description Name Observed Several visual observations of 15-34 Whistle Cubera schooling cubera Buoy Snapper snapper (60-85 cm), June and July 2009 Several observations of 6-11 large black grouper Carysfort Black Grouper (50-85 cm), Feb & March 2010 Visual observation of Watson Mutton 35-45 mutton snapper Reef* Snapper (60-65 cm) swimming in water column Reef Fish Aggregations in the Keys Site Name Species Observed Description Mutton snapper, gray Dozens of mutton snapper observed by divers May 2011, snapper, yellow goatfish, observations of 38 fishing boats on site in May 2011; Hundreds to over 1000 Western Dry Rocks mahogany snapper, spadefish, gray snapper observed over several months (June, July, and/or August) 2010 striped grunts and 2012, with additional species Over 1000 gray snapper swimming in tight school over two successive days, Gray snapper Mangrove Toppino August 2012 Hundreds of gray snapper observed over three consecutive months (June, July, Eyeglass Bar Gray snapper, mutton snapper 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 Gray snapper, yellowtail formation. Observations of 10 fishing boats (1 commercial, 9 recreational) Maryland Shoal snapper 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 Any Questions? .