Fish species of commercial value in the food market present at a depth of 30 m in the
SW Wall reef included nassau, red hind, and yellowfin groupers (Epinephelus striatus, E.
guttatus, Mycteroperca venenosa). Nassau groupers were represented by three
individuals, ranging in adult sizes (TL) from 30 – 60 cms (Table 40). The sizes of the
two yellowfin groupers were estimated as of 25 and 50 cms total length. Nassau and
yellowfin groupers are believed to use the SW Wall reef mostly as a foraging ground,
since there are no deep crevices, large coral overhangs, or other protective habitats for
them to hide at the SW Wall reef. Their residential habitat appears to be the adjacent
helf reef, close
e at a depth of 20 – 25 m, where large
omplex array of sand channels, overhangs, cre ices and other hideouts are available
(García et al, 2004). Conversely, the red hind appears to be a resident of the SW Wall
reef, but is more concentrated at the base of the wall, at a depth of approximately 40 m.
s mean density at 30 m (0.70 Ind/30 m
2
, or 0.02 Ind/m
2
) suggests that there was a
opulation of about 70 individuals along the 27-33 m depth section on the SW Wall reef.
All individuals surveyed were large adults, ranging in size between 24 – 40 cm (Table
39).
Mahogany snappers (Lutjanus mahogany) are also residents of the SW Wall reef. There
was one major school of approximately 60 – 70 adult individuals at the edge of the wall
on the southwest corner of the reef. More schools of mahogany snappers were
observed on the shelf reef, close to the edge, which suggests that the population at the
SW Wall is perhaps near their maximum depth distribution preference on this reef
system. Schoolmaster snappers (Lutjanus apodus) were observed to swim occasionally
down the wall, but their main population appears to reside on the shelf reef, above the
wall. Large pelagic predators, such as cero mackerels, barracudas, black jacks and
horse-eye jacks were common at the edge of the SW Wall reef, where some of their
forage fishes, such as mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) and creole wrasse
(Clepticus parrae) were observed to aggregate. One Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi) was observed at the edge of the wall.
s
to the edg
coral heads and a
c
v
It
p
131
SW Wall reef included nassau, red hind, and yellowfin groupers (Epinephelus striatus, E.
guttatus, Mycteroperca venenosa). Nassau groupers were represented by three
individuals, ranging in adult sizes (TL) from 30 – 60 cms (Table 40). The sizes of the
two yellowfin groupers were estimated as of 25 and 50 cms total length. Nassau and
yellowfin groupers are believed to use the SW Wall reef mostly as a foraging ground,
since there are no deep crevices, large coral overhangs, or other protective habitats for
them to hide at the SW Wall reef. Their residential habitat appears to be the adjacent
helf reef, close
e at a depth of 20 – 25 m, where large
omplex array of sand channels, overhangs, cre ices and other hideouts are available
(García et al, 2004). Conversely, the red hind appears to be a resident of the SW Wall
reef, but is more concentrated at the base of the wall, at a depth of approximately 40 m.
s mean density at 30 m (0.70 Ind/30 m
2
, or 0.02 Ind/m
2
) suggests that there was a
opulation of about 70 individuals along the 27-33 m depth section on the SW Wall reef.
All individuals surveyed were large adults, ranging in size between 24 – 40 cm (Table
39).
Mahogany snappers (Lutjanus mahogany) are also residents of the SW Wall reef. There
was one major school of approximately 60 – 70 adult individuals at the edge of the wall
on the southwest corner of the reef. More schools of mahogany snappers were
observed on the shelf reef, close to the edge, which suggests that the population at the
SW Wall is perhaps near their maximum depth distribution preference on this reef
system. Schoolmaster snappers (Lutjanus apodus) were observed to swim occasionally
down the wall, but their main population appears to reside on the shelf reef, above the
wall. Large pelagic predators, such as cero mackerels, barracudas, black jacks and
horse-eye jacks were common at the edge of the SW Wall reef, where some of their
forage fishes, such as mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) and creole wrasse
(Clepticus parrae) were observed to aggregate. One Caribbean reef shark
(Carcharhinus perezi) was observed at the edge of the wall.
s
to the edg
coral heads and a
c
v
It
p
131