Influence of Satellite Observed Environmental Conditions on Recreational King Mackerel Catches.
Carrie
Wall, College of Marine Science, IMaRS, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Fl, cwall@marine.usf.edu
Frank
Muller-Karger, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science &, Technology, New Bedford, MA, fmullerkarger@umassd.edu
Mitchell
A
Roffer, Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. West Melbourne Fl, roffers@bellsouth.net
(Presenting)
Chuanmin
Hu, College of Marine Science, IMaRS, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Fl, hu@marine.usf.edu
Partial results of a three-year study (2004-2006) on the effect of the ocean environment on the catch rate of king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) are reviewed. Catch statistics from fishing off west-central Florida were derived from 415 interviews conducted during 19 seasonal tournaments in April-May and October-November of 2004 and 2005.
Satellite data (infrared & ocean color - MODIS) from NASA’s Terra and Aqua, SeaStar (ocean color – SeaWiFS), and NOAA’s (infrared) constellation of polar orbiting satellites were used. Automated algorithms to detect frontal features in satellite-derived sea surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration, water clarity, and fluorescence images, as well as, high-resolution bathymetry data were successfully adapted for coastal waters off west-central Florida during spring and autumn periods of 2004 and 2005. Front detection using the MODIS chlorophyll fluorescence images proved to be the most useful in defining the boundaries of phytoplankton blooms compared to the chlorophyll and water clarity data. Local winds estimated from a USF Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System observing station were analyzed with the frontal data and bathymetric gradients to determine factors that influence oceanic frontal formation and stability.
Fishing success was highest in waters with intermediate water clarity, where baitfish were reported present, on the clearer side of the chlorophyll front. Non-persistent winds recorded throughout the study period led to unstable, non-persistent ocean fronts. The working hypothesis that more fish and higher catch rates would be associated with the nearest front was not proven as the distance of catch relative to the nearest front varied substantially. Also, a persistent harmful algal bloom event, clearly detected in ocean color satellite imagery during most of 2005, coincided with reports of significantly decreased baitfish presence and king mackerel catch in fall of that year.
The automatic front detection techniques applied here can be an important decision making tool for resource managers to evaluate coastal oceanographic features, daily over synoptic spatial scales, and understand changes in fish catch rate and location.
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