DWH Effects on Large Epipelagic Fishes, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, 2010-2012.

From a variety of research platforms operated over eight research cruises, collections were made of epipelagic and coastal sharks and rays and epipelagic teleost fishes in offshore and inshore waters of the northeast Gulf of Mexico November 2010 - June 2012, in areas proximal and distal to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A total of 3,984 hooks were set using pelagic longlines, bottom longlines and drumlines, resulting in a total catch of 195 fish (overall CPUE = 4.89 fish/100 hooks). These comprised: 17 species of sharks; swordfish (Xiphias gladius), white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares); and seven other species of epipelagic fishes. A total of 2,791 tissue samples were collected from these specimens for laboratory analysis. Gross observations of collected specimens indicated they were relatively disease-free with no externally obvious lesions, growths, discolorations or other grossly visible problems. Conventional and satellite tags were used to track movements of selected fishes.