Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
4-1998
Series
Special Scientific Report No. 124 Vol. 1997
Abstract
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has conducted a trawl survey dating back to 1955. Over the years methods and objectives have varied according to funding sources and state and/or federal mandates. The present thrust of the program is to provide juvenile indices of relative abundance for recreationally, commercially, and ecologically important fish and invertebrates. These measures of juvenile abundance are widely used as a key element in the management of the Atlantic States' coastal fishery resources. Estimates of juveniles ( age-0) have proven to be a reliable and early indicator of future year-class strength. A review of previously available indices of juvenile abundance for important fishery resource species of the Chesapeake Bay by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC), a federal/state committee sponsored and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), resulted in the recommendation that, "a unified, consistent trawl program should be one of the primary monitoring tools for finfish and crab stock assessment." (Chesapeake Bay Program Stock Assessment Plan, Chesapeake Executive Council 1988).
Several comments should be noted for the 1997 sampling year. The concern over pfiesteria like organisms in the late summer and early fall was the single most important event for the year. In cooperation with the Virginia Pfiesteria Task Force (V APTF), the trawl survey conducted additional sampling on the Rappahannock and Wicomico Rivers and began documenting specimens with lesions, ulcers, or other visible skin abnormalities beginning with the September 1997 survey. Only 0.067% of the over 255,000 specimens collected between September and December showed any of these characteristics. Other interesting notes included the first confirmed catch of pollock in the trawl survey, and the return of Atlantic sturgeon. Sturgeon, which were once fairly common in trawl catches, had not been caught since 1979. Three small specimens were captured in 1997. Species with large increases in catch rates included blue catfish, Atlantic croaker, white perch, spot, and channel catfish. Species with decreasing catch rates included scup, weakfish, striped bass, white catfish, silver perch, and blue crabs.
The purpose of this summary is to provide an accurate account of trawl survey sampling performed during the calendar year 1997. Previous volumes of this series have served as excellent reference guides to resource managers, scientists, academics, as well as the general public. Since there are other venues which presently detail specific results of these data (Geer and Austin, 1997), conclusions are kept at a minimum in order to provide the most information in the available space. Additional information can be obtained from the VIMS Department of Fisheries Science Web site located at www.fisheries.vims.edu. Information from several programs can be found at this site. On-line reports such as this volume can be found at www.fisheries.vims.edu/trawlseine/trawlreports.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25773/0mk1-0990
Keywords
Fisheries, Management, Abundance, Virgina
Recommended Citation
Geer, P. J. (1998). Juvenile Finfish and Blue Crab Stock Assessment Program Bottom Trawl Survey Annual Data Summary Report Series Volume 1997. Virginia Institute of Marine Science. William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.25773/0MK1-0990
