Ocean Visibility and Optics Lab

Project Managers

Fraser Dalgleish (Engineering), John Reed (Science)

Project Team

• Geoff Beiser, Mechanical Engineer
• Dave Bourdette, Welder
• Jeff Smith, Welder

Project Description

The purpose of DOBOS (Deep Oculina Benthic Observing Station) is to monitor and assess the status of the deep-water Oculina coral reef with acoustic recorder, time lapse photographs, CTD, and fouling plates. The acoustic recorder and time lapse camera system are used to record fish populations, behavior, and potential spawning aggregations of commercially and recreationally important grouper species. These data are top priority for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in assessing the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC). This project directly addresses DEP’s Priority Tasks for fisheries and effectiveness of marine protected areas, including essential fish habitat, threatened habitat, fisheries spawning sites, and development of rapid-assessment tools. This package is a preliminary observatory that will provide ‘proof of concept’ to expand these Biological Observatories as part of FLCOOS.

Our collaborators in this effort are Chuck Messing (Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL), Grant Gilmore (Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Sciences Inc., Vero Beach, FL) and Sandra Brooke (Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Fort Pierce, FL).