gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:36152 eng UTF8 dataset JPG Files Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5300 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. resourceProvider Luers, Lori H 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA lori.luers@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:28 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013 NCRMP: Benthic Images StR Hawaiian Archipelago 2017-01 creation 2025-09 revision 2025 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36152 NOAA https://doi.org/10.7289/v5js9nr4 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36152 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5360 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA pifsc.info@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. originator https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Coral Reefs in the Pacific NOAA Fisheries website download https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link National Coral Reef Monitoring Program NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) website. download imageDigital The data described here are benthic habitat imagery (color-corrected photographs) from benthic photo-quadrat surveys conducted along transects at stratified random sites by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD)--formerly the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division--as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The photo-quadrat surveys are part of Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) surveys for corals and fish conducted during ESD-led NCRMP missions across the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2013, 2016, 2015, and 2019, and 2024. In 2015, there was also a NCRMP (formerly known as RAMP) mission led by the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) (HA1505) to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems across the Hawaiian Archipelago. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density. Sites were surveyed using photo-quadrats along transects to collect benthic imagery to ultimately produce estimates of relative abundance (percent cover), frequency of occurrence, benthic community taxonomic composition and relative generic richness. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than sampling more transects at a site. Therefore, site-level estimates and site to site comparisons should be used with caution. The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long-term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP coordinates various Coral Reef Conservation Coral Reef Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis. NCRMP is a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs across the U.S. and its territories. This integrated approach consolidates monitoring of coral reefs under a uniform method in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and many other partners. The Ecosystem Sciences Division at NOAA Fisheries is leading biological monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. The biological component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a triennial ecological characterization at a broad spatial scale of general reef condition for reef fishes, corals and benthic habitat (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition). Innovative analysis techniques are then used to develop products that give fellow scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time. NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program onGoing Couch, Courtney S courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov pointOfContact Couch, Courtney S courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov custodian asNeeded Updated 2025 to add imagery collected in 2024 and will be updated as more imagery is collected. Updated 2022 to add imagery collected in 2015. Updated June 2020 to add imagery collected in 2019. DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD > Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 17.0 EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > CORAL REEF theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > HAWAII OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > HAWAII ISLAND OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > KAHOOLAWE OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > KAUAI OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > LANAI OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > MAUI OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > MOLOKAI OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > NIIHAU OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS > OAHU place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 20.8 CAMERA > CAMERA instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 17.2 743 National Coral Reef Monitoring Program theme CRCP Project Visual Images > Habitats theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment > Rapid assessment studies EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS imagery theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES Coral Reef Conservation Program National Coral Reef Monitoring Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kalawao > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kahoolawe Island > Kahoolawe Island (20N156W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus Coastal Waters of Hawaii North Pacific Ocean Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument place NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus camera instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI OSCAR ELTON SETTE platform NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC PMNM Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center RAMP REA Rapid Ecological Assessment Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program theme Triennial temporal MHI Main Hawaiian Islands NWHI Northwestern Hawaiian Islands place DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Hawaiian Archipelago project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36152. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Please cite NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2025: National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago since 2013, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/36152. otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. unclassified Not applicable Not applicable National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Cover Derived from Analysis of Benthic Images Collected during Stratified Random Surveys (StRS) across the Hawaiian Archipelago from 2013 to 2019 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36155 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across American Samoa since 2015 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25247 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Mariana Archipelago since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36153 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Benthic Images Collected from Stratified Random Sites (StRS) across the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36154 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 36152 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/36152.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US biota PIFSC network/file system: \\picQueenFish\optical\OPTICAL\ \\picGoldFish\general\Cruise\CruiseData Hawaiian Archipelago including the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. -160.251839 -154.804172 18.91922507 22.218748 Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), including Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and Lanai. -178.3843301 -166.053528 23.6242 28.457971 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including French Frigate Shoals, Kure, Lisianki, and Pearl & Hermes. MHI RAMP 2013 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2013-08-02 2013-08-22 NWHI RAMP 2013 (only one day of fish/benthic surveys conducted during this otherwise climate-focused mission) | Currentness: Ground Condition 2013-09-18 Shore-based surveys around Oahu as part of MHI RAMP 2013 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2013-10-18 2013-10-31 MHI RAMP 2016 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2016-07-13 2016-08-24 NWHI RAMP 2016 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2016-08-31 2016-09-27 MHI RAMP 2019 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2019-04-21 2019-08-06 Shore-based fish surveys around Oahu as part of MHI RAMP 2019 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2019-10-30 2019-10-31 Timeframe of the imagery collection from the 2015 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) RAMP surveys (HA1505) conducted by The PapahÃ��‚„naumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-07-31 2015-08-02 Time frame of imagery collected during the 2015 Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) conducted by the Coral Reef Ecosystems Division (CRED), now known as the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-06-16 2015-07-02 Time frame of benthic imagery collected for 2024 NCRMP surveys across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Includes MP2404, the shore-based mission in O'ahu, and SE2406 legs 1 and 2. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2024-05-13 2024-08-27 The NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) details a long term approach to provide an ecosystem perspective via monitoring climate, fish, benthic, and socioeconomic variables in a consistent and integrated manner. The NCRMP coordinates various NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) biological, physical, and human dimensions activities into a cohesive NOAA-wide effort. Through the implementation of the NCRMP, NOAA is able to clearly and concisely communicate results of national-scale monitoring to national, state, and territorial policy makers, resource managers, and the public on a periodic basis. NCRMP is a framework for conducting sustained observations of biological, climate, and socioeconomic indicators at 10 priority coral reefs across the U.S. and its territories. This integrated approach consolidates monitoring of coral reefs under a uniform method in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. NCRMP is funded by the CRCP and supported by NOAA Fisheries, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and many other partners. The PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) at NOAA Fisheries is leading biological monitoring in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. The biological component of NCRMP in the Pacific provides a triennial ecological characterization at a broad spatial scale of general reef condition for reef fishes, corals and benthic habitat (i.e., fish species composition/density/size, benthic cover, and coral density/size/condition). Innovative analysis techniques are then used to develop products that give fellow scientists, managers, decision makers and the public a better understanding of a region's resources and how they are changing over time. false eng false Data Table Benthic Image Site Info Data Dictionary 2023-01-17 publication JPEG JPEG JPEG CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) JPEG JPEG NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159144 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images HAWAII 2013 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0164293 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images HAWAII 2016 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0211063 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link StR Images HAWAII 2019 Photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0211063 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info HAWAII 2019.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the main Hawaiian Islands in 2019 by the NOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD). download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0159144 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info HAWAII 2013.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2013 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0164293 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Site Info HAWAII 2016.csv Metadata (site, date, and location) for photoquadrat benthic images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian archipelago in 2016 by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0276273 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NWHI_PMNM_PQ_siteinfo_2015 NWHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the NWHI RAMP (HA1505) by PMNM. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0268773 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link MHI_RFS_PQ_siteinfo_2015 MHI site metadata (including site name, date, and location) for the photoquads conducted during 2015 during the MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the ESD. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0276273 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NWHI_PMNM_PQ_images_2015 Benthic imagery collected during the 2015 NWHI RAMP cruise (HA1505) conducted by PMNM. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (e.g., TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG). download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0268773 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link MHI_RFS_PQ_images_2015 Imagery collected during the 2015 MHI Reef Fish Cruise (HA1503) by the CRED, now known as Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of the NOAA PIFSC. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0217940 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESD_NCRMP_BENTHIC_IMAGES_STRS_2024_HAWAII Benthic photoquadrat images collected at stratified random sites across the Hawaiian Archipelago during National Coral Reef Monitoring Program surveys in 2024 download dataset Accuracy Handheld GPS units were used to locate random sites and mark site locations. Analytical Accuracy Image data include ~30 benthic photographs per survey site from both the fish and benthic team surveys. The fish team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along one 30-m transect, as does the benthic team since 2018. Prior to 2018, the benthic team conducted surveys along 2 independent 18-m transects. Therefore, the site level image data prior to 2018 contains one transect (A) for fish team surveys and two transects (A and B) for benthic team surveys. Appropriate site level image grouping should include all 30 images. Completeness Report Only shallow water (0 to 30 meter depth range) hard-bottom habitats are surveyed. The survey sites were randomly selected using a systematic process based on available habitat and bathymetric data. Although efforts are made to include broad spatial coverage of surveys at each island, weather conditions and other environmental constraints may have prevented the team from surveying exposed reef areas. Conceptual Consistency The same methods of data collection were used at each surveyed site. The stratified random sampling (StRS) design and benthic photoquadrat survey methodology, employed by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) from 2013 to 2019. Benthic imagery is collected at stratified random sites. These photos are color-corrected (if necessary) prior to analysis. The data management team also uses an optical validation script to re-name photos and enforce several validation checks. A stratified random sampling (StRS) design was employed to survey the coral reef ecosystems through the U.S. Pacific regions. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats. The stratification scheme included island, reef zone, and depth in all regions, as well as habitat structure type in the Main Hawaiian Islands. The habitat structure types included simple, complex, and coral-rich. Depth categories of shallow (0-6 m), mid (> 6-18m) and deep (>18-30 m) were also incorporated into the stratification scheme. Allocation of sampling effort was proportional to strata area and variance in coral density . Sites were randomly selected within each stratum. A geographic information system (GIS) and digital spatial databases of benthic habitats (NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS), reef zones (IKONOS satellite imagery, NDGC 1998) bathymetry (NDGC 1998, CREP benthic mapping data), and marine reserve boundaries (NOAA) were used to facilitate spatial delineation of the sampling survey domain, strata, and sample units. Map resolution was such that the survey domain could be overlain by a grid using a GIS with individual cells of size 50 m by 50 m in area. A one-stage sampling scheme following Cochran (1977) was employed. Grid cells containing hard-bottom reef habitats were designated as primary sample units (referred to as sites). Couch, Courtney S courtney.s.couch@noaa.gov processor Photoquadrat surveys were conducted by both the fish and benthic teams. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along the transect line with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Overall, 30 photoquadrat images are collected at each site. The fish team conducts these surveys along one 30 meter transect that spans the length of two stationary point count (SPC) cylinders used to assess fish abundance (30 images total, Transect A). As of 2018, the benthic team conducts the photoquadrat surveys along one 30m transect, where one photo is taken every meter for a total of 30 photographs. Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov processor To ensure consistency, images were color corrected using Adobe Lightroom if it appeared that the camera they were taken from was not properly white balanced in the field. Raw data include 30 benthic photographs per survey site. Included in the archive package is a list of survey sites, including region, island, site, date (day, month, year), latitude (dd), longitude (dd), minimum depth (ft), and maximum depth where photoquads were collected and unique image name. The file naming convention for each photo/image is [SITE]_[YEAR]_[TRANSECT]_[PHOTO_NUMBER].JPG (for example: TUT-903_2012_A_01.JPG). Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov processor Source Contribution: Fish survey standard operating procedures Ayotte, P. , K. McCoy, A. Heenan, I. Williams, and J. Zamzow. 2015. Coral reef ecosystem program standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment fish surveys. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-15-07, 33 p. 2015-12-15 publication Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://doi.org/10.7289/v5sn06zt WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Institutional Repository Source Citation URL information originator Source Contribution: The SOP describes the method to collect benthic images during benthic surveys. Winston W, Couch C, Huntingon B, Vargas-Ángel B. 2020. Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for rapid ecological assessment benthic surveys, 2019 update. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-96, 56 p. 2020-02-01 publication Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Institutional Repository Source Citation URL information originator otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None