Over three hundred species of fish have been identified from Navassa waters, new species documented for the area from every cruise. Five fish counters (Jack Javech, Dave Gothan, Mike Judge, Joe Contillo, and Natalia Zurcher) will sample 75 sites, two to four samples per site, over eight da
ys at Navassa. We are using the data to assess population changes and ecosystem responses to fishing by artisinal fishermen from Haiti. Declines in reef fish biomass seems to be occurring with less larger fishes seen every year. A range extension of the reef cave brotula Grammonus claudei, photographed by Keith Pamper (Shedd Aquariun) during the November 2006 expedition, was quite exciting. Also seen during 2006 was a 5 foot goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara, 
unexpected since there is no habitat around the island for juveniles. We are hoping to photo-document as many species as possible during our fish counts, and since our sampling method is non-destructive, we take pictures and leave the fish alive.
ys at Navassa. We are using the data to assess population changes and ecosystem responses to fishing by artisinal fishermen from Haiti. Declines in reef fish biomass seems to be occurring with less larger fishes seen every year. A range extension of the reef cave brotula Grammonus claudei, photographed by Keith Pamper (Shedd Aquariun) during the November 2006 expedition, was quite exciting. Also seen during 2006 was a 5 foot goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara, 
unexpected since there is no habitat around the island for juveniles. We are hoping to photo-document as many species as possible during our fish counts, and since our sampling method is non-destructive, we take pictures and leave the fish alive.Dave McClellan
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