Reef Fish Densities at Artificial Reef Sites Estimated with ROV Video Sampling in the Northern Gulf of Mexico from spring 2009 to summer 2015

Study reefs were sampled with a VideoRay Pro4 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to estimate reef fish community structure. Quarterly video sampling was conducted at study reefs from spring 2009 through summer 2015, with a year-long gap in sampling from winter 2010 to fall 2011 due to the Deep Water Horizon (DWH) spill. The ROV-based point-count sampling method was employed to estimate reef fish densities in a 15-m wide cylinder around reefs. Taxa-specific counts used to calculate fish density (per 1000m^2). Three reefs of each type were randomly selected for inclusion in one of two lionfish removal treatments or a control group to assess the effect of lionfish and their removal on native reef fish communities.