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National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef fish communities in the Florida Reef Tract

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000+00:00
Coral reef fish survey data provided in this collection are from three (3) distinct regions along the Florida reef tract; 1) Dry Tortugas, 2) Florida Keys from Key West north to Miami and 3) Miami north to Martin County. These data are collected using a 2-stage, stratified random survey design. The stationary point count method (7.5m radius cylinder) is used to conduct fish surveys in Florida as part of the ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). This method collects and reports information on species composition, density, size structure, abundance and derived metrics (e.g., species richness, diversity). Lead agencies involved include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries) and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).

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0156445 0169400 0208321 0253454 0282183 0306184 BENTHIC COMMUNITIES BENTHIC SPECIES biological data CORAL DEPTH - OBSERVATION Fish FISH - CORAL REEF FISH CENSUS FISH SPECIES HABITAT HABITAT - BENTHIC REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - COUNT SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - ORGANISM LENGTH swimmer/diver visual estimate visual observation benthic biological in situ survey survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver visual estimate visual observation Coral Reef Conservation Program Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Florida State Department of Environmental Protection National Park Service NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Nova Southeastern University SEFSC - Miami Lab University of Miami University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Coastal Waters of Florida Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Gulf of Mexico North Atlantic Ocean oceanography Broward County Environmental Protection Agency Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Miami-Dade County NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center National Park Service Nova Southeastern University University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Broward County Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Miami-Dade County National Park Service Nova Southeastern University SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NOS/NMS > National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOI/NPS > National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior U-MIAMI/RSMAS > Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami 743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) CP Project #743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) Implementation NCCOS Project #180 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Implementation: Biological and Socioeconomic Monitoring Numeric Data Sets > Biology Numeric Data Sets > Fish Census EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Description EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Stationary EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Census EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation NCCOS Research Data Type > Long-term Monitoring NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments Marine Spatial Ecology > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments Field Observation Long-term Monitoring VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS Diver Visual Survey ruler Small Boats COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Florida Keys (24N081W0007) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Dry Tortugas > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Florida Keys (24N081W0007) OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States of America > Florida NCCOS Research Locations > Region > Atlantic Ocean U.S. States and Territories > Florida Waterbodies > Atlantic Ocean Dry Tortugas Florida Keys Reef Tract Miami north to Martin County Biennial 0A65HM 1R1HFG 9PYFEH LEKH7D M6FWLH T3CWL7

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
                                            {
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describedByType application/octet-steam
description Coral reef fish survey data provided in this collection are from three (3) distinct regions along the Florida reef tract; 1) Dry Tortugas, 2) Florida Keys from Key West north to Miami and 3) Miami north to Martin County. These data are collected using a 2-stage, stratified random survey design. The stationary point count method (7.5m radius cylinder) is used to conduct fish surveys in Florida as part of the ongoing National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). This method collects and reports information on species composition, density, size structure, abundance and derived metrics (e.g., species richness, diversity). Lead agencies involved include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries) and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).
distribution 
                                            [
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "CRCP Florida Fish Files",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/erddap/tabledap/CRCP_Reef_Fish_Surveys_Florida.html",
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identifier gov.noaa.nodc:NCRMP-Fish-Florida
issued 2016-08-29T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
                                            [
  "0156445",
  "0169400",
  "0208321",
  "0253454",
  "0282183",
  "0306184",
  "BENTHIC COMMUNITIES",
  "BENTHIC SPECIES",
  "biological data",
  "CORAL",
  "DEPTH - OBSERVATION",
  "Fish",
  "FISH - CORAL REEF",
  "FISH CENSUS",
  "FISH SPECIES",
  "HABITAT",
  "HABITAT - BENTHIC",
  "REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER",
  "SPECIES IDENTIFICATION",
  "SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - COUNT",
  "SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - ORGANISM LENGTH",
  "swimmer/diver",
  "visual estimate",
  "visual observation",
  "benthic",
  "biological",
  "in situ",
  "survey",
  "survey - biological",
  "survey - coral reef",
  "survey - swimmer/diver",
  "visual estimate",
  "visual observation",
  "Coral Reef Conservation Program",
  "Fish and Wildlife Research Institute",
  "Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary",
  "Florida State Department of Environmental Protection",
  "National Park Service",
  "NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science",
  "NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center",
  "Nova Southeastern University",
  "SEFSC - Miami Lab",
  "University of Miami",
  "University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science",
  "NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science",
  "NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center",
  "Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)",
  "CORAL REEF STUDIES",
  "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)",
  "Coastal Waters of Florida",
  "Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary",
  "Gulf of Mexico",
  "North Atlantic Ocean",
  "oceanography",
  "Broward County",
  "Environmental Protection Agency",
  "Florida Department of Environmental Protection",
  "Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission",
  "Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary",
  "Miami-Dade County",
  "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center",
  "National Park Service",
  "Nova Southeastern University",
  "University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science",
  "Broward County",
  "Florida Department of Environmental Protection",
  "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission",
  "Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary",
  "Miami-Dade County",
  "National Park Service",
  "Nova Southeastern University",
  "SEFSC",
  "Southeast Fisheries Science Center",
  "University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science",
  "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC > Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NOS/NMS > National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOI/NPS > National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior",
  "U-MIAMI/RSMAS > Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami",
  "743",
  "National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)",
  "CP Project #743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Plan (NCRMP) Implementation",
  "NCCOS Project #180 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Implementation: Biological and Socioeconomic Monitoring",
  "Numeric Data Sets > Biology",
  "Numeric Data Sets > Fish Census",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat > Description",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Ecological Dynamics > Species Richness",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Reef Fish Census > Stationary",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fish Census",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS",
  "NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation",
  "NCCOS Research Data Type > Long-term Monitoring",
  "NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology",
  "NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments",
  "Marine Spatial Ecology > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments",
  "Field Observation",
  "Long-term Monitoring",
  "VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS",
  "Diver Visual Survey",
  "ruler",
  "Small Boats",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Florida > Monroe County > Florida Keys (24N081W0007)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract (26N080W0007)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Dry Tortugas > Dry Tortugas (24N082W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Florida Reef Tract > Florida Keys (24N081W0007)",
  "OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN",
  "OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA",
  "OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO",
  "NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States of America > Florida",
  "NCCOS Research Locations > Region > Atlantic Ocean",
  "U.S. States and Territories > Florida",
  "Waterbodies > Atlantic Ocean",
  "Dry Tortugas",
  "Florida Keys Reef Tract",
  "Miami north to Martin County",
  "Biennial",
  "0A65HM",
  "1R1HFG",
  "9PYFEH",
  "LEKH7D",
  "M6FWLH",
  "T3CWL7"
]
landingPage https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
language 
                                            []
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
references 
                                            [
  "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2011.01.012",
  "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0157633/data/0-data/Atlantic/Biological/Florida/",
  "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/50830"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial -79.9938,24.4318,-83.1036,27.1897
temporal 2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00/2014-05-01T00:00:00+00:00
title National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef fish communities in the Florida Reef Tract

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