Estimation of Juvenile Striped Bass Relative Abundance in the Virginia Portion of Chesapeake Bay: Annual Progress Report 2016-2017

Authors

Brian K. Gallagher, Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceFollow
Mary C. Fabrizio, Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceFollow
Troy D. Tuckey, Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceFollow

Document Type

Report

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

5-2017

Abstract

The 2016 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index was 5.15 and was not significantly different from the reference mean of 7.77 observed in 1980-2009. Abundance indices in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers in 2016 were not significantly different than their historic averages (1967-2015). Juvenile White Perch abundance indices in 2016 were near historic averages in the York and Rappahannock rivers, but below the historic average in the James River. Because a new seine net was used during the 2016 survey, catches of Striped Bass and White Perch were adjusted using preliminary calibration factors derived from paired hauls of the old and new nets, thus ensuring that 2016 indices were directly comparable to previous years.

The abundance index for Atlantic Croaker was near the historic average, whereas another below‐average year class was observed for Spot in 2016. In contrast, American Shad and Alewife abundance indices were above average in Virginia waters in 2016. Blueback Herring abundance was near the historic average. Average to above‐average indices for most forage fishes suggested adequate production of key prey resources for populations of commercial and recreational piscivores in Virginia waters.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21220/V5NC83

Keywords

fish stock assessment, seine survey, fishery resources, fish populations

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Funding

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Project F87R27

Recommended Citation

Gallagher, B. K., Fabrizio, M. C., & Tuckey, T. D. (2017) Estimation of Juvenile Striped Bass Relative Abundance in the Virginia Portion of Chesapeake Bay: Annual Progress Report 2016-2017. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.21220/V5NC83