The Ecological Monitoring team joined forces with commercial fisherman Jeff Miles (pictured here with Jessica) to pilot a new study to sample fish in the marine reserve. Relying on Jeff's expertise and local knowledge of the area, the team used both long-lining and hook and line jigging to bring fish on the boat. The fish were then measured and released back to the ocean.  The team was successful in sampling a diversity of species---a goal of this approach-- including several copper, vermillion, yelloweye, china, and quillback rockfishes. The team will continue to work with Jeff over the coming month to refine this sampling.  To learn more about long-line sampling visit our blog.

SMURFS were sampled for the first time this year in early May in Otter Rock with ODFW's boat the Shearwater. We collected 79 fish: 76 Cabazon and 3 rockfishes that will be identified later. 

This picture shows a snorkeler gathering the SMURF in a net (pink net with black handles).  Don't know what a SMURF is, see our blog post here for a description.

Yesterday, we sampled the SMURF in Otter Rock again and collected an additional 66 juvenile fish. We will collect the Redfish Rocks SMURF later this week.