Last month, long-time REEF scientific advisor and Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Dr. Brice Semmens, participated in an important fisheries science meeting in Florida to help shape how Hogfish populations are assessed and managed in the Southeast U.S. This meeting was part of the SEDAR (Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review) process, a formal scientific review used by government agencies to assess the health of fish populations and set sustainable catch limits. These assessments have real-world impacts — they influence fishing regulations, quotas, and conservation strategies that directly affect the future of species like Hogfish.
Hogfish are notoriously difficult to monitor with traditional fishery-dependent methods, especially in areas where they’re not heavily fished. That’s where REEF data can fill important gaps. While at the meeting, Semmens worked with regional assessment scientists to translate citizen science data from the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project into valuable indices of Hogfish abundance. REEF's volunteer-driven fish survey project has collected one of the longest and most comprehensive fisheries-independent time series available for fishes in Florida and the wider Atlantic, providing a unique and essential dataset for understanding species population trends.
This is a major step forward in recognizing the power of community-based science and the unique value of divers' firsthand observations. We’re proud to represent the voices of ocean stewards in this critical decision-making process.
Semmens’ participation in the workshop is part of REEF's larger effort to link citizen science data with formal fisheries stock assessments, which are critical for sustainable fisheries management. The SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimation) project, a related effort that REEF is developing with support from the Southeast Fisheries Management Council, aims to collect length frequency information for species of management importance. Together, REEF’s fish abundance and size data will ultimately support broader adoption of citizen science data into fisheries management models.