The measurement of habitat-related growth has been identified as an important indicator of EFH and a means of distinguishing habitat types that are truly important in the productivity of fishery species. We have been experimenting with different types of enclosure techniques to measure growth of small nekton in estuarine and other habitats. This project combines our EFH work with our restoration research as we are measuring growth of crustaceans and fishes in natural and created estuarine habitats.

Mesocosms used to measure nekton growth in different estuarine habitats.