Hook and line (HnL) sampling target demersal fishes living on rocky reef habitats using catch and release methods. All fish caught are identified to species level and measured for length. Fish are caught using standardized gear for a fixed amount of time, providing data on effort.
Hook and Line surveys (HnL) began at the Cascade Head Marine Reserve and two of its comparison areas, Schooner Creek and Cavalier, in 2013, before implementation of the marine reserve in 2014. Sampling is conducted in the marine reserve and three comparison areas, Schooner Creek, Cavalier, and Cape Foulweather (see methods Appendix for additional information about comparison area selection). Monitoring efforts resulted in four years of data for our analysis and inclusion in the synthesis report.
Data from hook and line surveys can be used to explore questions about fish abundance and size from a survey tool that is similar to local commercial nearshore hook and line fishing efforts. We can also explore these data with questions about diversity and community composition to compare across monitoring tools to understand tool bias or to validate trends seen across tools. This can further help us understand how the fish communities in these areas are similar or different. Data on abundance and size enable us to explore how fish catch, biomass, and size have changed over time; and whether these changes are similar both inside the reserve and outside in comparison areas. For all data our main focus is exploring trends by site and year.