The catch at the deeper end of the slope, between 271 – 454 meters was dominated by
Misty and Yellow-edge groupers, and the Queen and Wenchman snappers
(Pristipomoides macropthalmus) (Nelson et al. 1984). Although not considered of
commercial value then, unidentified “sharks” and “others” comprised the largest catch at
all depths from the NMFS-NOAA surveys. The Swordfish, Xyphias gladius has been
captured by recreational fishermen at the deeper end of the insular slope, close to the
bottom.
Figure 8 shows the locations on the insular slope where relatively high catches of
commercially valuable snappers and groupers (> 20 pounds) were obtained during the
NMFS-NOAA fishery survey. Station identifications, geographic coordinates and depths
of these slope sections are included as Appendix 3. These areas represent important
habitats of insular slope reef fishes in the north coast of Puerto Rico, Culebra and the U.
S. Virgin Islands. In contrast to the abrupt and contracted slope features of the south
coast, the north coast presents a gentler slope, with more surface area for deep reef
communities. However, a much higher fishing effort was addressed to the north coast
slope, due to the extreme difficulties for fishing the south slope.
4. Seward Johnson Sea-Link II Submersible Survey
The Seward Johnson-Sea Link II submersible survey provided an unprecedented and
exceptional insight of our insular slope and oceanic seamount communities, including
taxonomic accounts and density estimates of commercially valuable fish species. The
purpose of the survey was to provide information on deep water habitats between 300
and 1,500 feet (ca. 100 – 500 m), and to document faunal assemblages and habitat
associations of commercially important fish species around Puerto Rico and the USVI,
as well as to provide an assessment of the fisheries potential of deep water resources
(Nelson and Appeldoorn, 1985).
Vertical submersible transects were performed from the lower slopes and rock walls to
the shelf-break at 15 sites around Puerto Rico and the USVI. Surveyed sites and
benthic habitat codes are presented in Table 25. Dives were initiated at the offshore end
of the transects and moved up the insular slope towards the surface. Water temperature
88
Misty and Yellow-edge groupers, and the Queen and Wenchman snappers
(Pristipomoides macropthalmus) (Nelson et al. 1984). Although not considered of
commercial value then, unidentified “sharks” and “others” comprised the largest catch at
all depths from the NMFS-NOAA surveys. The Swordfish, Xyphias gladius has been
captured by recreational fishermen at the deeper end of the insular slope, close to the
bottom.
Figure 8 shows the locations on the insular slope where relatively high catches of
commercially valuable snappers and groupers (> 20 pounds) were obtained during the
NMFS-NOAA fishery survey. Station identifications, geographic coordinates and depths
of these slope sections are included as Appendix 3. These areas represent important
habitats of insular slope reef fishes in the north coast of Puerto Rico, Culebra and the U.
S. Virgin Islands. In contrast to the abrupt and contracted slope features of the south
coast, the north coast presents a gentler slope, with more surface area for deep reef
communities. However, a much higher fishing effort was addressed to the north coast
slope, due to the extreme difficulties for fishing the south slope.
4. Seward Johnson Sea-Link II Submersible Survey
The Seward Johnson-Sea Link II submersible survey provided an unprecedented and
exceptional insight of our insular slope and oceanic seamount communities, including
taxonomic accounts and density estimates of commercially valuable fish species. The
purpose of the survey was to provide information on deep water habitats between 300
and 1,500 feet (ca. 100 – 500 m), and to document faunal assemblages and habitat
associations of commercially important fish species around Puerto Rico and the USVI,
as well as to provide an assessment of the fisheries potential of deep water resources
(Nelson and Appeldoorn, 1985).
Vertical submersible transects were performed from the lower slopes and rock walls to
the shelf-break at 15 sites around Puerto Rico and the USVI. Surveyed sites and
benthic habitat codes are presented in Table 25. Dives were initiated at the offshore end
of the transects and moved up the insular slope towards the surface. Water temperature
88