Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022

April 6 - 19, 2022
[ Disponible en español ]

Active Fishing Grounds in Deepwater Habitats Off Puerto Rico

Essential fish habitats (EFH) include areas that are important for reproduction, growth, feeding, and shelter for fish species. During this expedition, we visited habitats that are known to harbor commercially and ecologically important deepwater fishes.

Some of these sites have been fished for decades, but the habitats have not yet been documented. On three dives during the expedition, we captured images of important fish species, including snappers and mackerels, swimming over the tops of high-relief hardbottom areas. We also captured evidence of fishing activity, as shown in the images below, collected during expedition dives. These data will help with assessments of EFH for deepwater fishery species, including the deepwater snapper-grouper complex, a valuable, but poorly studied fishery in the Caribbean.

A black coral seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition displaying evidence of fishing activity.
A black coral seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition displaying evidence of fishing activity. Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022. Download largest version (jpg, 1.4 MB).
Fishing line visible across stony coral and a pencil urchin. Observed during an Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition dive.
Fishing line visible across stony coral and a pencil urchin. Observed during an Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition dive. Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022. Download largest version (jpg, 1.1 MB).
A pencil urchin and stony coral seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition.
A pencil urchin and stony coral seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition. Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022. Download largest version (jpg, 1.1 MB).
Evidence of past fishing activity seen near several basket stars and crinoids. Observed during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition.
Evidence of past fishing activity seen near several basket stars and crinoids. Observed during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition. Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022. Download largest version (jpg, 3.3 MB).

By Andrea M. Quattrini, Expedition Chief Scientist, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History

Published April 19, 2022