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appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

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3.0 Adult <strong>and</strong> Juvenile Fishes<br />

<strong>and</strong> no evident preference for certain areas, similar to results <strong>of</strong> many historical studies (e.g.,<br />

MEC 1996; SAIC <strong>and</strong> MEC 1996). Therefore, no consistent differences in species<br />

assemblages between outer, middle, <strong>and</strong> inner harbor areas were observed. It is likely that<br />

most dominant pelagic species such as northern anchovy, topsmelt, <strong>and</strong> Pacific sardines are<br />

distributed throughout the harbors <strong>and</strong> are not associated with any one habitat or area <strong>of</strong> the<br />

harbor. The MEC (2002) study used a slightly <strong>long</strong>er <strong>and</strong> deeper net to sample pelagic fishes<br />

but also collected demersal (habitat-associated) fishes which could have influenced the fish<br />

habitat association analyses. The current study used a net that was slightly smaller in length<br />

<strong>and</strong> less deep, so that incidental demersal species such as basses <strong>and</strong> halibut were not<br />

collected.<br />

Studies conducted between 1988 <strong>and</strong> 2000 recorded no harbor-wide spatial trends in the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> species (MEC 2002). Lampara studies, including the present one, showed similar<br />

ranges in the number <strong>of</strong> species across the harbor regions, such as inner harbor stations having<br />

between 4 <strong>and</strong> 12 species <strong>and</strong> outer harbor stations typified by between 3 <strong>and</strong> 11 species.<br />

Although results <strong>of</strong> the current study follow general trends observed by historical studies, some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the differences between the current study <strong>and</strong> previous harbor studies may be due to<br />

difference in sampling gear. For example, although the lampara net utilized for this study was<br />

similar in dimensions <strong>and</strong> mesh size to the lampara net used by MEC in previous baseline<br />

<strong>surveys</strong>, it was somewhat smaller. MEC’s net had a 273 m corkline <strong>and</strong> a net depth <strong>of</strong> 36 m,<br />

which caused the net to rest on the bottom <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten to snag objects on the bottom. In addition,<br />

that net <strong>of</strong>ten collected incidental demersal fish <strong>and</strong> macroinvertebrate species. Since this<br />

collection technique is intended to catch midwater pelagic fishes, it was evident that the net<br />

previously used fished too deep <strong>and</strong> collected non-pelagic (incidental) species. The net used in<br />

the current study was 22.3 m deep <strong>and</strong> rarely reached the bottom. Therefore, midwater pelagic<br />

species were primarily targeted <strong>and</strong> collected. Notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing the net differences, the present<br />

baseline lampara results were similar (excluding incidental demersal catch), to historical<br />

lampara studies conducted in the ports.<br />

3.4 DEMERSAL AND EPIBENTHIC (TRAWL)<br />

FISHES<br />

3.4.1 Community Summary Measures<br />

3.4.1.1 Abundance<br />

A total <strong>of</strong> 20,318 fish were collected using otter trawl<br />

during day <strong>and</strong> night <strong>surveys</strong> at all 19 stations<br />

combined (Table 3.4-1). Northern anchovy (Engraulis<br />

mordax), the most abundant species collected,<br />

represented nearly 30% <strong>of</strong> the total trawl catch.<br />

Other species with relatively high catch abundances<br />

included white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), 27%<br />

<strong>of</strong> the catch; queenfish (Seriphus politus), 19% <strong>of</strong> the<br />

catch; shiner surfperch (Cymatogaster aggregata),<br />

6.7% <strong>of</strong> the catch; <strong>and</strong> white surfperch (Phanerodon<br />

furcatus), 3.6% <strong>of</strong> the total catch (Table 3.4-1).<br />

Commercially/recreationally important fish species<br />

collected during otter trawl sampling included<br />

California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) <strong>and</strong><br />

barred s<strong>and</strong> bass (Paralabrax nebulifer).<br />

3–8 <strong>2008</strong> Biological Surveys <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Harbors<br />

April 2010

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