Inventory of Coastal Pelagic Fishes of Dry Tortugas National Park from 2006-2007- Data Package

Within the boundaries of Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO), there is very little known about the distribution of non-reef, coastal pelagic fish assemblages. A study plan created by the National Park Service identified this issue and made it an objective to learn about the distribution, abundance, and occurrence of these fish assemblages. Four methods were used for identifying these fish assemblages, 1) fish were caught using a hook and line resource assessment survey across four seasons, 2) a 21-meter seine net was deployed for 9 meters of bare substrate, patchy seagrass, and continuous seagrass, 3) a dip net, and 4) a cast net. Length, weight, and species were identified for fish caught with these methods when possible. Forty-three species were caught across the fifty-five site locations within DRTO. These sites were sampled from February 27, 2006 to July 11, 2007 over seven different research cruises.