PC-1802: May 12-24, 2018 Chief Scientists: John Reed and Stacey Harter
The goal of the cruise is to gather additional data on habitat and fish assemblages in six of the South Atlantic marine protected areas (MPAs) and Oculina Experimental Closed Area (OECA) as part of a long term sampling program to document changes in these areas before and after fishing restrictions are implemented. The scientists will conduct ROV and multibeam sonar surveys inside and outside six MPAs as well as inside and outside the OECA in the south Atlantic to assess the efficacy of this management tool to protect species of the snapper grouper complex and Oculina coral. The southernmost boundary of the work areas will be Port Canaveral, FL while the northern-most boundary will be Cape Hatteras, NC.