The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) is one of the most economically important fisheries in both Florida and the USVI. The crustacean is under substantial recreational and commercial fishing pressure in the regions and in some cases within park boundaries. The monitoring methodologies described in this document will allow us to understand the status and trends of spiny lobster populations in the parks.

The monitoring program objectives focus on estimating a population level relative density index, frequency of occurrence index, and average size of spiny lobster and using these metrics to assess changes through time. Changes in these metrics can be evaluated after each survey season and with respect to habitat features, physical environment, and management actions.

This dataset includes data from the following sampling missions:

2019 - Buck Island Reef National Monument and Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve 2021 - Virgin Islands National Park 2021 - Deep-water surveys (100 - 150ft) around St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands as part of a NOAA Cooperative Agreement 2021 - Deep-water surveys (100 - 150ft) around St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands as part of a NOAA Cooperative Agreement 2022 - Biscayne National Park 2023 - Dry Tortugas National Park 2024 - Buck Island Reef National Monument and Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

This release contains three separate data files:

• Site data: Describes site-level information for lobster surveys. It contains count totals summed from the plot-level. In rare circumstances, if insufficient hardbottom was available, only one plot (not the typical two) was conducted at a site. This is documented in the notes column.

• Plot data: Describes diver-level observations within their portion(s) of a lobster survey. Each survey site has two plots, where each diver is responsible for surveying one-half of each plot. Thus, there are 4 records for each plot (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). In rare circumstances, only enough hardbottom existed to conduct a single plot at a site. This is indicated in the notes column.

• Lobster data: Describes size and demographic characteristics for all observed lobsters.