Category Archives: Research Programs

Pelagic, Research Programs, Sustainable Fisheries

Dolphinfish tagging update

June 10, 2014 ceiblogger

Fig. 1. Anglers target mahi for their strong fight, showy leaps, tasty fillets, and beautiful colors.

Dolphinfish (aka mahi mahi or dorado) are a highly sought after sportfish targeted by offshore anglers, and they also support commercial fisheries in the Caribbean and US. Until recently, little was understood about their movements, stock ranges, and population structure. Recent findings suggest that these fish complete long-distance migrations and are quick to mature. However, little information exists about dolphinfish movements or harvest in The Bahamas – a location identified by the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council in critical need of further stock assessment.

Fig. 2. A tagged dolphinfish ready for release. Note the orange tag, printed with contact information for reporting a recapture of this fish.

The Cape Eleuthera Institute has been working with the Cooperative Science Services’ Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP; http://www.dolphintagging.com/) to mark dolphinfish in The Bahamas with external tags (fig. 2). After recording the fish’s size and location of capture, the fish is tagged and released to be captured again by an angler or commercial fisherman. Upon recapture, essential information such as distance travelled and growth of the fish can be determined.

Recent recaptures in the Bahamas have further demonstrated both the distances travelled by dolphinfish, as well as the large geographic range of the north Atlantic stock. One fish tagged in Florida last year was recaptured 309 days off Rum Cay in the southern Bahamas. It is estimated that the fish travelled up the East Coast of the US before swimming back to the Bahamas – a total of nearly 4,000 miles (fig. 3)!

Fig. 3 A potential dolphinfish migration route. This individual dolphinfish grew in length from 18 to 53 inches in the 309 days between initial tagging and recapture, and might have travelled nearly 4,000 miles (map courtesy of DRP).

These findings are critical to protecting the Atlantic mahi fishery. By quantifying movements of dolphinfish across political boundaries (i.e., US, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and other Caribbean nations), a regional management plan can be devised and enforced, ensuring a sustainable fishery for all countries.

If you will be fishing in the Bahamas and are interested in tagging dolphinfish, contact zachzuckerman@ceibahamas.org, or visit the DRPs website. Many anglers release small dolphinfish; tagging is a great way to contribute to our increasing knowledge of this economically important species!

Dolphinfish regulations in the Bahamas are not based on current stock assessments. Collecting data on recreational harvest and movements can ensure proper management of the fishery.

Tag and release small dolphinfish, or those too large for you cooler. Tagging is also a great way to enjoy fishing if you have reached your limit of fish. This dolphinfish smiles at the camera as it is being released.

Lionfish, Research Programs

Update on the You Slay, We Pay Campaign: Mass Dissection

June 3, 2014 ceiblogger

Mass dissection and filleting of lionfish

To date, we have had a total of 220.6 lbs of lionfish brought in for the lionfish slayer campaign. Last Wednesday, much of the lionfish was dissected and filleted for the upcoming Parents Weekend. In total, 98 fish were filleted, 65 of which were fully dissected and documented. The whole day was a huge success as a steady flow of fish were photographed, de-spined, and measured, then dissected to determine sexual maturity and stomach content, and finally filleted. One giant fish set the record for the largest yet seen and documented at CEI; it weighed in at a whopping 967 grams, or 2.13 pounds, and measured 41.5 centimeters in length.

Biggest lionfish on record for Eleuthera

By the end of the day over 80 pounds of lionfish had been filleted and ready for the kitchen to prepare for visiting Island School parents. The fins were harvested for the creation of jewelry, demonstrating the multiple ways lionfish can generate income.

Conch, Flats, Lionfish, Research Programs, Sea turtles, Sharks, Student Research, Sustainable Fisheries

Island School students present their research at Parent’s Weekend

May 28, 2014 ceiblogger

Last week, the Island School campus was inundated with the parents of the Spring 2014 students. Aside from campus tours and a breathtaking art gallery, parents also got to witness the students give scientific research presentations pertaining to the research projects they have been involved with all semester.

The Deep Water research group giving their presentation.

Each presentation was ten minutes long, and followed the format of a professional scientific presentation, explaining background on the topics, the current problem, the methods used to collect data, data analysis, and interpretation of results, ending with why the project matters and what can be done in the future. Parents were thrilled to see the young scientists give their first real talk in front of a large audience. Each student group also fielded questions from the parents.

Click on the link to see a list of research topics. Continue reading →

Conch, Research Programs, Sustainable Fisheries

Deep Creek Middle School students host town hall meeting on Sustainable Fisheries

May 21, 2014 ceiblogger

DCMS students Dimitri Rolle and Siddhira Johnson discuss the need for sustainable fisheries in The Bahamas.

A town hall meeting was held on May 15 at the South Eleuthera Mission. This meeting was organized by Deep Creek Middle School students who formed a Sustainable Fisheries team: Dimitri Rolle, Oriana Carey, and Sidhira Johnson. Dimitri was the leader of the group. He is particularly passionate about overfishing and sustainable fisheries, and he decided, with the group, that gathering community members to talk about the issue would be a great way to learn about the issues and explore some solutions.

The meeting was the culmination of their DCMS community outreach project. These students took the initiative to plan this meeting, and there was a great turnout, with over 30 young people attending.

Claire Thomas talks about conch overfishing.

The night started with a presentation from Claire Thomas, who manages the Queen Conch Research Program at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. She talked about the problem of conch overfishing, specifically in the Bahamas, and then addressed some potential solutions to overfishing. After the presentation, Oriana and Sidhira divided the audience into three groups, and each group discussed a potential solution: a closed season for conch, a marine protected area, and a lionfish fishery. The idea for the discussion groups came from the DCMS Sustainable Fisheries team, and the discussions were lively, with a lot of participation from the audience. Continue reading →

Lionfish, Outreach, Research Programs

CEI Researcher Dr. Jocelyn Curtis-Quick presents at Tedx Nassau

May 16, 2014 ceiblogger

On Saturday, May 3rd, the first TEDx event in The Bahamas, TEDx Nassau 2014, took place. The event aimed to facilitate nationwide conversations about pressing issues in The Bahamas today, and invited speakers to discuss their solutions to these problems along with other “ideas worth spreading.”

Dr. Curtis-Quick presenting on the lionfish invasion.

Dr. Jocelyn Curtis-Quick of the CEI Lionfish program was invited to present at the event, sharing information about the latest campaign to create a lionfish fishery. She discussed the history of the lionfish invasion, some facts about the success of these invasive predators and their devastating effects on reefs, as well as the concept behind the CEI “You Slay, We Pay” campaign. She informed listeners of the efforts to encourage a lionfish fishery and addressed some of the major barriers that are at present complicating the process. She encouraged the audience to eat lionfish, ask for lionfish in restaurants and stores, and to talk to others about the invasion.

Dr. Curtis-Quick got to meet Erin and Tina from Seasonal Sunshine Bahamas, an organization that currently buys and sells lionfish in Nassau.

Dr. Curtis-Quick was honored by the invitation to participate in this TEDx event and we at CEI would like to compliment the organizers, particularly Uli Voges, Tiera Ndlovu, and Lilian Weikert on a hugely successful weekend. We would like to thank them for the opportunity to spread knowledge as well as to express gratitude to all organizers and participants for the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking event and to enjoy enlightening, rewarding, and eye-opening conversations with many of the movers and shakers of The Bahamas.

Flats, Outreach, Research Programs

CEI Researcher Zach Zuckerman discusses mangrove conservation in Abaco!

May 6, 2014 ceiblogger

Flats Research Manager Zach Zuckerman was invited to perform an ecological assessment of Sand Banks Creek near Treasure Cay, Abaco. Together with Olivia Patterson of Friends of the Environment, representatives from Abaco Defenders, and with the support of Save the Bays, Zuckerman performed a visual census of habitat types and species present in the creek, providing preliminary data to emphasize the need for sound management of Abaco’s nearshore environment.

Mangrove roots provide structure, for protection and foraging, for baitfish and predatory fish alike.

Two green turtles scoot by a snorkeler. Hawksbill and loggerhead turtles were also observed in the creek.

Land use change is a continuing threat to The Bahamas’ mangrove and tidal creek ecosystems; due to their proximity to the sea, beach and low-lying mangrove forest are particularly appealing for coastal development and construction of marinas. However, historical data on the ecology of already developed areas is often lacking, and communities are becoming increasingly involved in the protection and management of sensitive marine habitats. Such is the case at Sand Banks Creek, where historical, recent, and proposed development has altered a critical habitat, thus providing a need to collect data to describe the current status of the system.

Juvenile bluestripe, white, and french grunts. Grunts are sometimes harvested for local consumption.

Rapid ecological assessments (REAs) are a standardized sampling method to quantify the presence and abundance of species in a habitat, the habitat types present in a location, and to identify anthropogenic stressors on a system. Zuckerman and his team first assessed past and ongoing coastal development near the creek via satellite and aerial imagery, then surveyed the perimeter via car and kayak. The team also performed underwater surveys as part of the REA to identify benthic cover and aquatic species not observable by kayak.

Continue reading →

Educational Programs, Research Programs, Sea turtles, Student Research

Visiting Program from Muncton gets involved with all aspects of CEI!

May 1, 2014 ceiblogger

Things are heating up here at CEI! Students are on campus, summer is on the way, and the adventures are everywhere. The Educational Programs team wrapped up the month of February with a returning group from Muncton High School in Canada. The blog for this group was written by student Jana Giles.

On our first day we all safely arrived at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. The view of the islands and ocean from the plane was absolutely incredible–the water was completely turquoise! Before even unpacking, we were already on the beach, and we finally enjoyed an amazing supper after a long day!

Continue reading →

Lionfish, Outreach, Sustainable Fisheries

Lionfish invade Rock Sound Homecoming!

April 28, 2014 ceiblogger

Part of the team working the CEI booth: Aaron, Tamanji, Liz and Alicia

CEI Lionfish team visited Rock Sound’s homecoming celebration. Amid stands selling fritters, grouper, and curry chicken the crew erected a booth dishing out free samples of lionfish ceviche, passing out brochures, and sporting the new line of t-shirts from CEI’s “You Slay, We Pay” campaign. It is at venues like these, when huge numbers of people from around the Bahamas come together to celebrate, talk, and most importantly eat, that outreach is so critical. It is not yet universal knowledge that lionfish are both edible and delicious, so having a presence at local cultural events such as this allows us to spread awareness and change minds.

This was evidenced first hand on Saturday, when many locals tried lionfish for the first time. Initially hesitant observers came forward after hearing about the process of safely filleting lionfish, discussing the benefits to many native fisheries from eating lionfish, and seeing the satisfied smiles of previous samplers. Many first-timers were visibly surprised at the clean taste of the white meat. The unanimous consensus was that the fish offers a delicious alternative to other Bahamian classics.

Slayer campaign logo

Why is this so exciting and why is outreach like this so important? The invasive and hugely harmful lionfish is a largely untapped marine resource throughout the Caribbean. However, with more and more people trying and loving lionfish at events like Saturday’s homecoming, it is hoped that demand for lionfish as a fishery will rise. Fishermen will then play a greater role in lionfish population control as they work to meet that demand with supply.

How to make your own lionfish ceviche:

1. Start with fresh lionfish fillets, and finely dice. Immerse in lime juice for 20-30 minutes.

2. While lionfish is marinating, dice green peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Place in a bowl to the side. You should have roughly equal amounts of vegetables and fish.

3. Dice a very small amount of habanero or scotch bonnet pepper into extremely small chunks.

4. Drain lime juice out of the lionfish; fish should look opaque and white.

5. In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped fish and all vegetables and peppers. Mix well, season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Serve and enjoy! You are promoting a sustainable fishery.

Flats, Research Programs

Effect of Thermal Stressors on Great Barracuda and Schoolmaster Snapper

April 24, 2014 ceiblogger

GOPR0760 — Conducting a swim trial with a Great Barracuda

Over the next 100 years, factors causing climate change have the potential to increase sea
surface temperatures by up to 5 degrees Celsius. However, even a small increase could have
drastic effects on tropical areas due to the historical thermal stability of places such as the
Caribbean.  Recently, the Cape Eleuthera Institute has been focusing efforts on investigating how
climate change may affect tropical fish species and the marine communities with which they
interact.  One specific project is using a swim tunnel to measure the aerobic scope of Great
Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and Schoolmaster Snapper (Lutjanus apodus).  A swim tunnel
is a cylindrical tank in which a fish swims against a current and its oxygen consumption can be
measured.  Data obtained from the swim tunnel such as swimming velocity and respiration rate can then be used to calculate the fish’s aerobic scope.  Aerobic scope, or the capacity for oxygendriven metabolism, is a good overall indicator for performance and can estimate how much energy a fish has to devote to essential behaviors such as foraging, predator evasion and reproduction. The water that flows through the swim tunnel can be slightly warmed to simulate future ocean
conditions, and the fish’s response can be quantified.  Through this study, CEI and the Flats
Ecology and Conservation Program hope to gain insight on how different coral reef and mangrove
fish species will react under the thermal stressors that climate change may present.

Lionfish, Outreach, Sustainable Fisheries

You Slay, We Pay!

April 7, 2014 ceiblogger 1 Comment

The ‘You Slay, We Pay’ campaign is underway. Lionfish are invasive and devastating reefs; fortunately for us, they are delicious! However, these fish are still an untapped sustainable marine resource. The Island School with CEI launched a campaign to start a lionfish fishery and are buying lionfish from local fishermen for $11/lb during this lobster closed season (April 1st – July 31st). Locals fishermen are encouraged to bring fish in – they receive an amazing lionfish slayer t-shirt when they drop off their first 15 lbs of lionfish. Additionally, we enter them in a raffle each time they bring in 15 lb of lionfish, and there will be a prize draw at the end of season to win a new pole spear and other goodies.

So how can you support this campaign? Several ways:

Eat lionfish! Please, when you are eating out, ask for lionfish! Even if it is not on the menu it is a great way to create a demand and therefore supply. * Don’t choose to eat species that are in closed fishing season or are unsustainable.

Buy a t-shirt! The purchase of your t-shirt supports the cost of ‘You Slay, We Pay’ sustainable fishery campaign. These limited edits shirts are available online now!

Click here to buy a lionfish t-shirt!

Spread the word! Wherever you are, speak with and educate people about the lionfish issue. Keep up to date on the success of this campaign through our blog and social media accounts.

Education, Research, Outreach