University of South Florida

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A Virtual Trip to the Reefs of the West Florida Shelf

A Fish Ecology Lab member surveys an artificial reef on the West Florida Shelf. Photo courtesy of the Fish Ecology Lab.

A Fish Ecology Lab member surveys an artificial reef on the West Florida Shelf. Photo courtesy of the Fish Ecology Lab.

The Fish Ecology Lab, led by Chris Stallings, PhD, has conducted reef surveys on the West Florida Shelf for seven years. Through these surveys, lab members hope to not only understand how these communities are structured and distributed, but also how these communities may change over time with increasing demands from recreational fishing and climate change. Long-term datasets like those collected by the Fish Ecology Lab are key for driving policies that support healthy fisheries in Florida and ensure Florida remains the fishing capital of the world. Watch the video below to learn more about the lab’s reef surveys and see first hand the beauty the lies beneath the waves.

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