Document Type

Report

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

4-15-2017

Abstract

This report describes the results of the nineteenth year of a continuing study to estimate the relative abundance and assess the status of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) stocks in Virginia by monitoring the spawning runs in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers in spring 2016, evaluating hatchery programs, and contributing to coast-wide assessments (ASMFC 2007). We also report on a new fishery-independent monitoring program using staked gillnets to determine relative abundance and stock structure for the adult spawning run of river herring (A. pseudoharengus, and A. aestivalis) in the Rappahannock River. Data are also reported from two separate fishery-independent monitoring programs using a drift gillnet (year 3) and anchor gillnets (year 2) to assess the status of the spawning run of river herring in the Chickahominy River, a major tributary of the James River. Further, we report on the second year of a monitoring program for juvenile alosines by using nighttime surface trawls in the Chickahominy River and calculate an index of juvenile abundance. Additional objectives were to monitor bycatch of American shad in a permitted gill-net fishery and American shad and river herring in pound-net fisheries.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21220/V5788B

Keywords

shad, shad fisheries, alewife, blueback herring, Virginia

Funding

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Contract no. F-116-R-17. Project period: 15 February 2016 - 14 February 2017..

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