Preliminary Cruise Report. 2015 HBOI-FAU Cruise. Mesophotic and deepwater reef ecosystems- ROV/AUV surveys of SW Florida Shelf including Northern Pulley Ridge and Howell Hook regions. May 7-20, 2015

The primary focus of the Mesophotic Reef Project is to advance NOAA OER goals whilecomplementing the management objectives of NOAA’s Mesophotic Reef Ecosystems program,NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, NOAA’s Sanctuaries Program,NOAA Fisheries, and Regional Fishery Management Councils (Gulf of Mexico, GOM). Amajor goal of the CIOERT project is to characterize mesophotic and deepwater reef ecosystemsacross a variety of sites in the GOM off the west Florida shelf, targeting northern Pulley Ridgeand adjacent shelf-edge banks and hard bottom habitat that are prospective Essential Fish Habitat(EFH), and prospective MPA sites.