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 ( 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)

Temperature ( Temperature Daily detection frequency detection Daily

Date Utilization of Riley’s Hump

Black and Scamp

Mutton Snapper Cubera Snapper Multispecies Aggregation Site: Muttons and Triggers Multispecies Aggregation Site: Grouper Multispecies Aggregation Site: Cubera Snapper Fish Aggregations, Multi- 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?