Pacific Remote Island Coral Reef Fish Surveys Since 2014

Towed-diver surveys of large-bodied fishes (> 50 cm) conducted by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program since 2014. Data were collected in the Pacific Remote Island Areas by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program. Observations include the number, size, and species of fish within a visually estimated transect during 50-minute surveys.

Use Cases

• Monitor population trends of large-bodied reef fish based on species and size observations.
• Assess coral reef ecosystem health based on fish community data collected via towed-diver method.
• Model spatial distribution of fish species across the Pacific Remote Island Areas.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of marine protected areas based on long-term survey data since 2014.

Strengths

• Data collection follows a standardized NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program protocol.
• Surveys cover approximately 2–3 km of habitat per 50-minute tow, providing spatial context.
• Time series began in 2014, offering a multi-year perspective for the Pacific Remote Island Areas.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Towed-diver surveys following the ~15-m depth contour, with visual observations recorded in 5-minute segments.

Time Range

Since 2014

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 23:01:25.699688; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Pacific Remote Island Areas