NOAA/PIFSC Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) Reef Fish Survey Locations: Main Hawaiian Islands

To support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems, reef fish assessment surveys are conducted as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA) during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) cruises in the Main Hawaiian Islands region by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). REA is a useful method for gathering data pertaining to ecologically significant biological components of a reef habitat over small spatial scales. Because the method provides a quick "snapshot" of major reef biota during a single dive or snorkel survey, it is particularly useful in assessing remote areas that are only rarely visited and where little time can be spent. Surveys are conducted along a set of transect lines. With their high level of taxonomic resolution over small spatial scales, REAs are a good complement to towed diver surveys, which are conducted over larger spatial scales but with a lower level of taxonomic resolution.

For more information, please see:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/ecosystem-sciences-division-standard-operating-procedures-data-collection-rapid