Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
10-26-2018
Journal
Conservation Physiology
Volume
6
First Page
58
Abstract
Capture and handling stress studies are considered a primary research priority, particularly for species and fisheries where discard rates are high, and/or for overfished stocks and species of concern. Lophius americanus, a commercially valuable finfish in New England, constitutes the second highest bycatch species within the sea scallop dredge fishery. Despite its commercial importance, no data exists on the capture and handling stress of monkfish for any gear type. Given these shortcomings, our goals were to evaluate the stress response of monkfish captured in scallop dredge gear by evaluating physical, behavioural and physiological responses to scallop fishing practices. While 80% of monkfish displayed little to no physical trauma, behavioural and physiological assessment indicated high levels of stress, especially as air exposure and tow duration increased. This finding suggests that the manifestation of stress in monkfish may be a cryptic response necessitating further research in addition to estimates of post-release mortality rates to appropriately advise fisheries management regarding the mortality of monkfish bycatch in the sea scallop fishery.
DOI
10.1093/conphys/coy058
Keywords
Discard Mortality; Leucoraja-Ocellata; Winter Skate; Bycatch; Survival; Management; Responses; Exposure; Teleost; Glucose
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Weissman, Amelia M.; Mandelman, John W.; Rudders, David; and Sulikowski,, James A., The effect of capture and handling stress in Lophius americanus in the scallop dredge fishery (2018). Conservation Physiology, 6, 58.
10.1093/conphys/coy058
