Gary Shepherd, biologist from the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole, MA shows fishermen what scientists look
for when dissecting fish during growth and population research.
Fishermen schooled on schools
Last week 25 commercial and for-hire
recreational fishermen along with industry participants went to school to learn
about fish populations, how they grow, what impacts them and how we aim to keep
them at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels.
The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) workshop, held at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, was sponsored by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
a non-profit research center dedicated to being a catalyst to find solutions to
ocean and fisheries challenges.
“At this workshop, you are going to
find out where all the numbers come from.” said John Williamson, MREP implementation program member. The “numbers” Williamson was referring to are
fishing quotas or allowable catch limits (ACLs) for various fish species.
Participants were also schooled on ecological drivers of fish abundance,
conservation, sampling survey techniques, stock assessments and the effects of climate
change on fish populations along the east coast.
Last week’s MREP session focused on
science issues as they relate to fisheries, a second workshop scheduled for
March will address management issues. The MREP was founded in 2001 to provide
fishermen the tools and information needed to foster conservation while creating
an understanding of the science and management tools used to regulate
fisheries. Additionally, it helps policy
and science professionals to become more familiar with the workings of the
fishing community. Programs are run in several locations throughout the year.
Seven scientists from NOAA labs, university
based fisheries programs and from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center
instructed participants on topics such as ecological drivers of fish abundance,
conservation, sampling, statistics and fish surveys, stock assessments and the effects
of climate change on fish populations along.
Highlights of the session included
an explanation of “Maximum Sustainable Yield” and how it aims to take the
maximum number of fish out of the water that will allow for continued, good
healthy growth of fish species in terms of fish size and numbers of fish. If too
many fish are taken out of the water the biomass could decline to dangerously low
levels and have difficulty recruiting new fish to desired levels. If too few fish are taken a species may experience
slow fish growth or not enough population growth due to crowding, less food supply,
decease and the species could experience major decline.
Gary Shepherd for the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center at Woods Hole, MA led a presentation on fish population
biology. Shepherd demonstrated how to
tell a fish’s age by examining lines or growth rings on their scales with a microscope
and/or by counting growth rings on their otolith which is a small calcareous
concentration at top of a fish’s spine (and/or in the inner ear of
vertebrates). He then dissected several
fish including tautog and scup to relate what biologist normally do in the
field checking and recording fish ages and stomach content to gain insight on
fish population growth.
Another highlight was Dr. Rob
Latour of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, who has accumulated data on
the prey of fifty common east coast fish species as well as what they eat. If
you are interested in what a fish eats you can register for Dr. Latour’s data
base at: http://www.vims.edu/research/departments/fisheries/programs/multispecies_fisheries_research/interaction/fish_food_habits/index.php
.
Dr. Jonathan Hare, director of
NOAA’s Narragansett, RI laboratory related the impact of climate change on a variety
of fish species commonly caught on the east coast such as yellowtail flounder, summer
flounder, black sea bass and a host of others.
Dr. Hare related since 1920 waters
on the east coast continental shelf have increase by 1 to 2 degrees centigrade
as the abundance of fish populations such as flounder and black sea bass have
shifted north. Cold water fish like cod
have also left near coastal waters as they have warmed.
Fishermen at the workshop testified
to seeing a difference in fish abundance in a number of species as well as
seeing warmer water species that they do not normally see come into our waters.
You can now track 80 northeast species (650 in total) on a new Rutgers
University website called OceanAdapt at http://oceanadapt.rutgers.edu
.
Victor Hartley of the charter
fishing vessel Capt. Robbins said, “I have a better understanding of what I
need to do as a fisherman to impact fisheries research, policy and regulations.”
The future looks bright too as we explore
new and better ways of doing things.
Like eco-system based management models that take into account
environmental factors, food supply, climate change, fishing effort/catch and
other factors. Programs such as the Marine Resource Education Program provide
an important link with education, enhanced communication, and foster a better
understand between fishermen, fishing communities, scientist and fish mangers.
Boat Show this
weekend
The Providence Boat Show is this Friday, January 23 through
Sunday, January 25 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. “This year we put a
special emphasis on all the elements boaters need to enjoy their time on the
water. Boats and gear are the foundation, but boaters also need exposure to new
information to spark their imaginations about all the great things they can do
on the water,” said Wendy Mackie, CEO of the Rhode Island Marine Trades
Association (RIMTA), which owns and manages the show. “We took every type of
boater into consideration to create this year’s event: from seasoned salts to
those just getting involved in the sport—whether they want to sail, fish,
powerboat, or kayak.”
Besides boats highlights this year include a boating and a
fishing seminar tracks. Boating session
will focus on boating safety and equipment of all types. A full range of fishing seminars organized by
Capt. Jack Sprengle of East Coast Charters will feature a variety of local captains
and fishing guides speaking on ten topics from how to land trophy bass, spear fishing
strategies, how to troll, land large cod, and how to catch swordfish and
sharks.
Additional highlights include top chefs from seafood
restaurants who will be on hand to demonstrate sea-to-table cuisine. Attendees
can also learn about the Volvo Ocean Race and their planned May visit to
Newport for the race’s only North American stopover.
Visit www.providenceboatshow.com
for show information and details.
Where’s the bite
Cod
fishing continues to be
good. Frank Blount of the
Frances Fleet said, “Saturday was a solid day of cod fishing with lots of action
at the rail from both short fish and keepers.
Top fish on Saturday was ten pounds.
The top fish for the week was 20 pounds.” Party boats sailing for cod fish at
this time include the Seven B’s at www.sevenbs.com,
the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com
and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com
.
How to shellfish recreationally
January 26
Guest panelist Roger Tellier of North Kingstown said,
“There’s nothing better than a little neck on a half shell fresh out of the
water… Where else can you go and in a few hours harvest quahogs, steamers,
mussels, oysters and scallops…” Join
Roger, Barry Fuller, Paul Kennedy and Capt. Dave Monti as they have a panel
discussion on shell fishing recreationally in RI. The RI Saltwater Anglers Association seminar
takes place this Monday, January 26, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, West
Warwick. Non-members welcome, $10
donation to the RISAA Scholarship Fund, members attend free. Visit www.risaa.org
for details.
ASMFC input meeting
January 29
A meeting of Rhode Island's commissioners to the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will be held on Thursday, January 29, 6:00 p.m. in the Hazard Room in the
Coastal Institute Building at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett. The purpose of the meeting is to review
and discuss the agenda for the upcoming February 3-5 ASMFC meeting in
Alexandria, VA which will include important striped bass, summer flounder,
black sea bass and other spice management plans Rhode Island will have to
follow in 2015. Visit http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-winter-meeting
for the meeting agenda.
Striped bass size and quantity down
“Nearly 90 percent of the anglers who responded to the
our striped bass survey said they caught fewer fish in 2014 than in previous
years, and 71 percent said the fish they did catch were smaller,” said Brad
Burns, president of Stripers Forever, a conservation organization that
advocates game fish status for wild striped bass. “The survey response from 830
anglers, most of whom have fished stripers seriously for more than 10 years,
has been increasingly negative since 2006.” said Burns.
In a press advisory, Stripers Forever said, “The Stripers Forever survey clearly shows that the
organization's members want fishery managers to go much further by banning the
harvest of large, prime breeding size stripers until the resource biomass stock
is healthier. The survey respondents also favor setting aside a high percentage
of the current commercial harvest quota for conservation and they are willing
to finance a striped bass conservation stamp to pay for buying out the
commercial fishery.”
For survey details visit: https://www.stripersforever.org/2014-annual-angler-survey-results
.
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