Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The Bahamas has a goal of protecting 30% of their habitat by the year 2030 through marine protected areas and land-based parks. There is a need for scientific evidence to justify the selection of areas for protections. Additionally, The Bahamas relies heavily on its marine resources as a source of tourism-based income along with commercial, recreational, and artisanal fishing. Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveys (Stereo BRUVS) will be used to assess the abundance, biodiversity, and length composition of populations of elasmobranchs and predatory reef fish (e.g., groupers and snappers). The objectives of this project are to (1) assess biodiversity and abundance from BRUVS footage, (2) identify any critical habitats for species of concern, and (3) compare BRUVS from the Berry Islands across multiple years to assess if populations are changing.