Linking habitat to recruitment: evaluating the importance of pelagic Sargassum to fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico
Implementing Organization
University of Southern Mississippi
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$1,770,853
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 4: NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Monitoring and Observations
Targeted Resources
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Project Description
Sargassum is thought to serve as nursery habitat for recreationally and commercially important fishes in the Gulf of Mexico, such as gray triggerfish and mahi mahi. However, information about the nursery function of Sargassum for juvenile life stages of these fishes is lacking, and little is known about the environmental factors that drive variability in Sargassum abundance and distribution. To evaluate the nursery function and importance of Sargassum to fisheries in a way that is useful to fisheries managers, and to better understand the ocean and climate conditions that result in "good" Sargassum years, the researchers will measure variability in the distribution and abundance of Sargassum in the northern Gulf of Mexico. They will also assess the nursery-role function of Sargassum relative to its location and variability in different habitats (open ocean vs. nearer to shore) and the morphology (i.e. thickness) of Sargassum mats. Additionally, they will develop and test the usefulness of including measures of the capacity for Sargassum to serve as juvenile fish nursery habitat (i.e. habitat indices) in population assessments of recreationally and commercially important fish species associated with Sargassum. These habitat indices will be developed using data collected from satellites and ships in the field. In total, this project will assess the relationship between Sargassum and the recruitment of managed fish species by considering the quality of the Sargassum habitat (in terms of available food resources, growth, and environmental conditions) for juvenile fishes associated with Sargassum.
Contact
Frank Hernandez228-818-8800
frank.hernandez@usm.edu
Project Website
NOAA
None