Rings in the otolith of a croaker indicates the fish was five years old.

Part two of a two-part series

Until the recent development of NEAMAP, (Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program) there was no large-scale cooperative effort to collect fisheries-independent data in near shore ocean waters from Maine to Cape Hatteras, the North Atlantic Bight.

NEAMAP with scientists from Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) just completed its fall survey of the region with 150 sites analyzed. It is a remarkable process translated into the scientific method to assure statistical validity. Every detail duplicated to the nth degree at every station.

F/V Darana R, no longer a squid vessel but rather a scientific laboratory, slipped into Lundt’s Fisheries on Oct. 10 and picked up passengers for a NEAMAP demonstration trip where two sites would be worked. I was lucky to go along.

Jim Gartland, lead researcher, gave us background information on the project and explained how the trawls would be conducted.

A standardized protocol is followed for every stop. A specially designed net is pulled for exactly twenty minutes and once the catch is pulled up, it is sorted by species and counted. Accurate length and weight measurements will be taken for all species of management interest: bluefish, weakfish, stripers, sea bass, tog, butterfish, flounder. The fish are quickly returned to the sea. A small sampling is kept for more detailed study.

The hold of this commercial fishing vessel has been converted into a working laboratory where about five specimen of each species are dissected to determine sex, spawning stage, stomach contents, otoliths (rings on ear bones which indicate age of fish), and overall condition. The samples are bagged and tagged for further study back at the Institute.

Side studies are also conducted. Data is gathered from scales and otoliths to determine if one or the other is a better indicator of age. Genetic analysis is tracking bacteria and skin lesions. There is a water quality measuring device determining its relationship to the catch. The team also tags all sharks and Atlantic sturgeon. All this information is needed for accurate stock assessment.

This fall the average net catch is 1500-2000 pounds while some tows have yielded as much as 5000 pounds. Gartland reports that butterfish and scup have been found in all but one or two tows this season.

Stripers were abundant in the catches from Mantauck and eastern Long Island to Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park. Some were in the mix at Barnegate then the numbers trailed off south of Beach Haven. Spleen samples are taken from the striper to test for myco bacteria, a strain a TB.

Captain Jimmy Ruhle and his crew, Bobby Ruhle and Rigo Rodriguez, are responsible for the navigation and maintenance of the vessel. Once the catch is on deck, the researchers take over. Today the VIMS Team is made up of Jim Gartland, Stephanie Dukes, Jameson Gregg, and Evan McOmber.

The first stop is Station 46 about two miles north of Hereford Inlet where Gartland expects to see spot, croaker, scup, butterfish, skates, flounder, small dogs, shark, moonfish, and blues. Because the water this year is colder, Gartland is seeing more small dogfish with well over 90 percent female.

Once the captain gives the signal, his crew lowers the net and times the trawl. In exactly 20 minutes the net is pulled up and every fish in the net is spilled into the back checker area.

The catch is small but nonetheless, the VIMS Team springs into action sorting, counting, weighing, measuring, and sending samples to the lab. The non-stop action assures that the fish are returned to the sea as soon as possible.

While the scientists work, the captain moves us farther north, about a mile offshore of Avalon. The process is repeated exactly and this time yields a bigger catch.

Both crews must be exhausted but there is such a sense of satisfaction in the work that is being done.

Over 1.01 million fish were counted last year (this year’s numbers are not available yet). The results will be used by the ASMFC (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission), MAFMC (Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council), NEFMC (New England Fisheries Management Council), and the NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) which is part of NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). The long-term goal is to create a centralized database and increased communication among agencies deciding species management procedures.

The ASMFC met recently in Rehoboth, Del. and Gartland presented information about the status of NEAMAP. He believes that people are pleased with the work that is being done.

Gartland has heard positive comments before from groups who want the independent surveys to continue; however, without a stable funding source, each year’s activities are at risk.

Improvements in the collection of fisheries-independent data like NEAMAP will surely provide a more accurate understanding of the status of life in the Atlantic and hopefully lead to improvements in fisheries management which will translate to realistic and accurate decisions.

For a copy of last year’s fall report visit neamap.net