Comparison of video and traps for detecting reef fishes and quantifying species richness in the continental shelf waters of the southeast USA

The management of reef-associated fish species is challenging due to their life history characteristics and occurrence in rocky reef habitats that are difficult sample using traditional sampling gears. We compared 2 common gears for species, chevron traps underwater video, 5 yr comprehensive paired data (N = 7034) collected at between North Carolina Florida along the southeast United States Atlantic continental shelf. Most families (80%) (85%) were observed significantly more often on video than caught traps, only out 40 (5%)—black sea bass Centropristis striata bank C.ocyuru s —were video. Moreover, site-specific richness was approximately 3-4 times higher average traps. also used a generalized additive model show ratio trap-caught video-observed shallower waters off South Carolina, especially when water clarity low. Results demonstrate can be an efficient gear most fishes around world but may provide even greater benefits with like leverage strengths each estimating relative abundance certainty.