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    • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Reef Fish, including Benthic Estimate Data of the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013

    Metadata Updated: May 24, 2025

    The stationary point count (SPC) method is used to conduct reef fish surveys in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The SPC method catalogs the diversity (species richness), abundance (numeric density) and biomass (fish mass per unit area) of diurnally active reef fish assemblages in shallow-water (less than 30 m) hard-bottom habitats. Visual estimates of benthic cover and topographic complexity are also recorded, with benthic organisms grouped into broad functional categories (e.g., 'Hard Coral', 'Macroalgae'). A stratified random sampling (StRS) design is employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems throughout the U.S.-Pacific regions. For all regions, the survey ___domain encompasses the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats and the stratification includes island, reef zone, and depth, with the exception of the Main Hawaiian Islands that includes habitat structure type as well. Sampling effort is allocated based on strata area.

    Reef fish and benthic estimate data provided in this data set were collected during SPC surveys as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) led NCRMP missions around the Main Hawaiian Islands in 2013, 2016, and 2019, 2024 and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2016 & 2024. Data collected as part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument funded research cruises in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2014, 2015, and 2017 are also included as these data are funded separately from but are complementary to the NCRMP-funded data.

    Additionally, data collected as part of a PIFSC-funded Reef Fish Survey cruise in the Main Hawaiian Islands in 2015 are included as these data are funded separately from but are complementary to the NCRMP-funded data. During the 2015 and cruise, some sites were surveyed using both open-circuit SCUBA (OC) and closed-circuit rebreather (CCR), as part of an ongoing assessment of sources of bias in survey count relating to divers' presence. The CCR data is archived separately.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date May 15, 2025
    Metadata Created Date February 7, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date May 24, 2025
    Reference Date(s) 2016-12 (creation), 2024-11 (revision), 2024 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NMFS PIFSC

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Graphic Preview

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date May 15, 2025
    Metadata Created Date February 7, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date May 24, 2025
    Reference Date(s) 2016-12 (creation), 2024-11 (revision), 2024 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:24447
    Access Constraints Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Reef Fish, including Benthic Estimate Data of the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/24447., Access Constraints: None, Use Constraints: Please cite NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division when using the data. Suggested citation: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2024: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) of Reef Fish, including Benthic Estimate Data of the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/24447., Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
    Bbox East Long -154.806
    Bbox North Lat 22.219
    Bbox South Lat 18.919
    Bbox West Long -160.251
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview File https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/4000x3000-rea-survey-caranx-sexfasciatus-paulaayotte.jpg
    Graphic Preview Type JPG
    Harvest Object Id 940aa0e0-a969-41cc-8b4d-9caeeab902c5
    Harvest Source Id c0beac72-5f43-4455-8c33-1b345fbc2dfe
    Harvest Source Title NMFS PIFSC
    Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
    Lineage Stationary Point Count survey of coral reef fish methodology, employed by the NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument since 2007.
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-160.251, 18.919], [-154.806, 18.919], [-154.806, 22.219], [-160.251, 22.219], [-160.251, 18.919]]]}
    Progress onGoing
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2013-10-01
    Temporal Extent End 2013-10-31

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