Abstract

In anticipation of the establishment of the Marine Fishery Reserve at La Parguera on the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico, a two year feasibility study was initiated to allow detection of community level changes in the surrounding reef areas. The project approach was designed to generate support from the local fishing community by highlighting the socio-economic benefits and by allowing local input into the decisions on site selection and enforcement. Assessment methods were required that would develop a database pertinent to local interests. Commercially important fishery species on the three potential reserve sites were targeted for underwater visual census using a time-based ‘Active Search Census’ (ASEC) method. The ASEC technique shows effectiveness in assessing the structure of a designated community and maximizing available data on key commercial species. To date a total of 57 commercially important species from 22 families have been included in the censuses. Preliminary data show significant differences in the dominant family groups and in the most abundant species between the three reef study sites. Initial analyses also show a relatively high abundance of juvenile snappers, goatfishes, bar jacks, and parrotfishes with a low abundance of adults. This work is coupled with transect surveys intended to assess changes in benthic habitat.

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