Volume 59
Linking Oceanographic Modeling and Benthic Mapping With Habitat Suitability Models For Pink Shrimp On The West Florida Shelf
Authors
Rubec, P.J., Lewis, J., Reed, D., Ashbaugh, C., Lashley, C., Versaggi, S., Weisberg, R.H., Zheng, L., He, R., Jenkins, C. Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November, 2006
Pages: 691
Event: Proceedings of the Fifty Nine Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: Belize City
Country: Belize
Abstract
A study was conducted to model and map the spatial distributions and abundance of pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) on the West Florida Shelf (WFS) using habitat suitability modeling (HSM). Data loggers and an electronic logbook system installed on three shrimp boats were used to gather data concerning catch (lbs) and effort (hours fished) for pink shrimp along with associated bottom temperature, salinity, and depth data at known coordinates during fishing operations. Data provided by the fishing company collected using a vessel monitoring system (VMS) allowed the creation of a map depicting areas with high fishing effort. Significantly higher mean catch rates (CPUEs) of pink shrimp occurred on the WFS during June to September, and October to December 2004 in comparison to January to March, and April to June 2005. Oceanographic modeling predicted monthly averaged bottom currents (speed and direction) and temperatures for a 16-month period from March 2004 to June 2005. Current speed and direction data indicated marked upwelling onto the WFS during 2004, and downwelling from the shelf during 2005. Sediment data from the WFS were interpolated to produce a sediment distribution map. Suitability functions were created across environmental gradients to predict CPUEs in relation to depth, aspect, bottom type, bottom temperature, current speed, current direction, and VMS zones. The HSM linked to geographic information systems were used to predict spatial distributions and abundances of pink shrimp monthly from March 2004 to June 2005. The areas with the most pronounced upwelling were also the areas that the HSM analyses predicted should have the highest catch rates. This was verified by overlaying observed CPUEs from the fishing vessels onto the suitability zones predicted by the HSM. Nutrients carried onto the shelf promoted higher shrimp abundances. The analyses estimated mean CPUEs by HSM zones. Linking fisheries to oceanography can explain how the ecosystem functions to the benefit of both the fishing industry and fisheries management