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Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 36, No. 3, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In This Issue

Breathing New Life Into an Old Trade  Sally Mills

The Intracoastal Waterway: Connecting People & Communities  Charlie Petrocci

Economic Assessment of AIWW Needed The Indoor Ocean: A View of Marine Finfish Aquaculture Across Virginia  Angela I. Correa

Clean Marina Program Welcomes 2 More to its Ranks  Sally Mills

News from the Point

New Publication

Evaluating And Enhancing The Success Of Oyster Reef Restoration: The Effects Of Habitat Complexity On Oyster Survival, Mark W. Luckenbach, Paige G. Ross

Reports

We evaluated the progress of several oyster restoration efforts of varying ages in three tidal tributaries of Chesapeake Bay, the Rappahannock, the Piankatank and Great Wicomoco rivers. In 2003 and 2004, we determined the density, biomass and size frequency distribution of oyster populations on the reefs during spring, summer and fall. Recruitment of oysters to the reefs was quantified using standardized substrates deployed and retrieved from the reef surfaces on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule from May through November. The prevalence and intensity of the oyster pathogens Perkinsus marinus and Haplosporidium nelsoni in oysters on the reefs was determined from …

Marine Baitfish Culture, Michael J. Oesterling, Charles M. Adams, Andy M. Lazur

Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia : Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2004-2008 Annual Report 1 September 2003 - 31 August 2004, Philip W. Sadler, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris, Bonnie G. Holliman

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Marone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 August 2003 through 31 August 2004. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2004 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the fall 2003 directed mortality study that is a collaborative effort with the Maryland Department ofNatural Resources. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated management plan for striped …

Parasitism In Species Of Bathymodiolus (Bivalvia : Mytilidae) Mussels From Deep-Sea Seep And Hydrothermal Vents, Me Ward, Jeffrey D. Shields, Cl Van Dover

VIMS Articles

Bivalve species, especially mussels, are biomass dominants in many deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems. As in shallow-water environments, parasites are likely to be important factors in the population dynamics of bivalve communities in chemosynthetic ecosystems, but there has been little study of parasitism in deep-sea seep or vent molluscs. In this study, Parasite types, diversity, prevalence, infection density and non-infectious indicators of stress or disease as related to host age, reproductive condition, and endosymbiont density were assessed in mussels (Bathmodiolus heckerae) from 2 seep sites and mussels (B. puteoserpentis) from 2 vent sites. We identified 10 microbial or parasitic agents in histological …

Final Report Industry Trials Of A Modified Sea Scallop Dredge To Minimize The Catch Of Sea Turtles, William D. Dupaul, David Rudders, Ronald J. Smolowitz

Reports

No abstract provided.

Infection Dynamics Of Marteilia Refringens In Flat Oyster Ostrea Edulis And Copepod Paracartia Grani In A Claire Pond Of Marennes-Oleron Bay, Corinne Audemard, Mc Sajus, Et Al

VIMS Articles

The protozoan parasite Marteilia refringens has been partly responsible for the severe decrease in the production of the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis Linnaeus in France since the 1970s. The calanoid copepod Paracartia grani Sars was recently found to be a host for M refringens in French shallow-water oyster ponds ('claires'). This study reconsidered M refringens transmission dynamics in the light of this finding, taking into account not only oyster infection dynamics and environmental factors but also data concerning the copepod host. P. grani population dynamics in the claire under study revealed that this species is the dominant planktonic copepod …

Ultrastructure Of Mycobacterium Marinum Granuloma In Striped Bass Morone Saxatilis, Dt Gauthier, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, Ca Ottinger

VIMS Articles

An emerging epizootic of mycobacteriosis currently threatens striped bass Morone saxatilis populations in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Several species of mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium marinum, species resembling AT. avium, All. gordonae, M. peregrinum, M. scrofulaceum and M. terrae, and the new species M. shottsii have been isolated from diseased and healthy bass. In this study, we describe the ultrastructure of developing M. marinum granulomas in experimentally infected bass over a period of 45 wk. The primary host response to injected mycobacteria was formation of large macrophage aggregations containing phagocytosed bacilli. AT marinum were always contained within phagosomes. Close association of lysosomes with …

The Crest, Fall 2004, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• NOAA Opens Chesapeake Bay Office in Virginia at VIMS
• Team discovers probable cause of croaker deaths
• Researchers test and refine storm-surge models
• Dye helps predict potential dispersal of non-native oyster larvae
• Researchers release juvenile blue crabs
• Annual wetlands workshop explores Isabel's impacts
• Fellows earn berth at EPA Conference
• Reay and Priest share Spirit award
• Schaffner briefs U.S. Congress
• VIMS student develops educational board game
• VIMS hosts release of Fisheries Ecosystem plan
• Researchers study ocean's "internal weather"
• VIMS mourns passing of Andrews
• News Briefs

Estimating Relative Juvenile Abundance Of Ecologically Important Finfish And Invertebrates In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay(Project No. Na03nmf4570378) June 2003 – May 2004, Marcel M. Montaine, Wendy A. Lowery, Herbert M. Austin

Reports

No abstract provided.

Isolation And Characterization Of Mycobacteria From Striped Bass Morone Saxatilis From The Chesapeake Bay, Mw Rhodes, H Kator, I Kaattari, D Gautier, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, Ca Ottinger

VIMS Articles

Mycobacteriosis in striped bass Morone saxatilis of Chesapeake Bay, USA, was first diagnosed in 1997 based on the presence of granulomatous inflammation and acid-fast bacteria in skin and spleen. To confirm histopathology, bacteriological detection and identification of mycobacteria were begun using splenic tissue from fish with and without skin ulcerations. On the basis of initial studies using a variety of selective and nonselective media, decontamination, homogenization and incubation conditions, a simple and quantitative recovery method using aseptic necropsy of splenic tissue was developed. Optimal recovery was obtained by spread-plating homogenates on Middlebrook 7H10 agar with incubation for 3 mo at …

Industry Trials Of A Modified Sea Scallop Dredge To Minimize The Catch Of Sea Turtles, William D. Dupaul, David B. Rudders, Ronald J. Smolowitz

Reports

No abstract provided.

Estimating Relative Abundance Of Young Of Year American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Virginia Tributaries Of Chesapeake Bay. Final Report (2003 Reporting Year), Marcel M. Montane, Hank Brooks, Wendy A. Lowery, Aimee D. Halvorson

Reports

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (hereafter referred to as FMP) for the American Eel in November 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing the state’s efforts to collect data on the resource and the fishery it supports through both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent studies. To this end, member jurisdictions (including Virginia) agreed to implement an annual abundance survey for young of year (YOY) American eels. The survey is intended to “…characterize trends in annual recruitment of the young of year eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American …

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 36, No. 2, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In this Issue

Fishing for Facts: Shark Research & 2 Conservation in Action - W. Matthew Shipman

Studying the Mysterious Denizens of the Deep The VIMS longline survey continues. Find out what we know, and don’t know, about sharks along the Virginia coast.

A Popular Dinner Guest - Charlie Petrocci

Tagging Program Provides Insight on Flounder- Jon Lucy Summer flounder are sought after by both commercial and recreational fishermen, and this season has witnessed lots of action.

Slowing Down the [e]Waste Stream - Sally Mills

One Man’s Hard Drive Doing some summer cleaning? If your closet is filled with an …

Evaluating Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, To The Potomac River Spring 2004, Marcel M. Montane, Wendy A. Lowery, Hank Brooks, Aimee D. Halvorson

Reports

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the American eel in November 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing the states’ efforts to collect data on the resource and the fishery it supports through both fishery dependent and fishery independent studies. To this end, member jurisdictions (including the PRFC) agreed to implement an annual abundance survey for young of year (YOY) American eels. The survey is intended to “…characterize trends in annual recruitment of young of year eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to …

Status Of The Major Oyster Diseases In Virginia 2003 A Summary Of The Annual Monitoring Program, Ryan Carnegie, Lisa M. Ragone Calvo, Eugene M. Burreson

Reports

Low temperatures and salinities brought abatement in the oyster diseases caused by Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) and Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) for the first time since 1998. In the James River, P. marinus prevalences were the lowest they had been since 1998. In summer and fall, when P. marinus is normally most prevalent, it was found in a maximum of 72% of oysters at Wreck Shoal and in less than half the oysters at Horsehead Rock and Point of Shoals. Advanced infections were very rare. Haplosporidium nelsoni had disappeared completely from quarterly James River samples by July

Preliminary Gear Comparison Between 16/0 And 18/0 Sizes Non-Offset Circle Hooks In The Southeastern U.S. Coastal Pelagic Longline Directed Swordfish Fishery, David W. Kerstetter

Reports

No abstract provided.

A New Pathogenic Virus In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus From The Florida Keys, Jeffrey D. Shields, Dc Behringer

VIMS Articles

A pathogenic virus was diagnosed from juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters Panulirus argus from the Florida Keys. Moribund lobsters had characteristically milky hemolymph that did not clot. Altered hyalinocytes and semigranulocytes, but not granulocytes, were observed with light microscopy. Infected hemocytes had emarginated, condensed chromatin, hypertrophied nuclei and faint eosinophilic Cowdry-type-A inclusions. In some cases, infected cells were observed in soft connective tissues. With electron microscopy, unenveloped, nonoccluded, icosahedral virions (182 +/- 9 nm SD) were diffusely spread around the inner periphery of the nuclear envelope. Virions also occurred in loose aggregates in the cytoplasm or were free in the hemolymph. …

Interim Report Industry Trials Of A Modified Sea Scallop Dredge To Minimize The Catch Of Sea Turtles, William D. Dupaul, David Rudders, Ronald J. Smolowitz

Reports

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Relative Abundance Of American Shad In Virginia’S Rivers 2003 Annual Report, John E. Olney

Reports

Concern about the decline in landings of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) along the Atlantic coast prompted the development of an interstate fisheries management plan (FMP) under the auspices of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Management Program (AS

A Comparative Evaluation Of A 3.5" Ring Dredge Versus A 4.0" Ring Sea Scallop Dredge Equipped With Sea Turtle Excluder Chains, William D. Dupaul, David Rudders

Reports

No abstract provided.

Seasonal, Interannual And Geographic Variations In Sea Scallop Shell Height And Meat Weight, William D. Dupaul, David Rudders

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Evaluation Of A 3.5" Ring Versus A 4.0" Ring Sea Scallop Dredge, William D. Dupaul, Kevin D. Goff

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Crest, Spring 2004, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• VIMS dedicates Kauffman Center
• Ocean report bolsters VIMS agenda
• Mann urges Congress to enact ballast water standard
• Graves receives faculty award
• Study supports UN Dead Zone report
• Marine trades will pay for training
• Researchers link beach erosion to ice-age channels
• Recovered tag provides data windfall
• Heritage tourism workshop draws local businesses
• Pair contribute to Science article on ocean fertilization
• VIMS launches data buoy
• Hale takes PBDE research to the air
• VIMS finds pathogen in non-native oyster
• Study reveals drop in SAV
• NOAA honors VIMS alumnus
• Musick celebrates 35th Roanoke round-up
• Assembly names Library for Hargis
• VIMS honors …

Shellfish Culture Forum: Industry Issues An Annual Evaluation, Virginia Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program

Reports

No abstract provided.

Virginia Marine Trades Feasibility Study, Northern Neck Planning District Commission, Thomas J. Murray

Reports

No abstract provided.

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 36, No. 1, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

Dameron Marsh in the Morning - Randall Shank

Been to the Northern Neck recently? Now you can view the

Chesapeake amid the meandering salt grasses at Dameron Marsh.

How Clean is Clean Enough? - Sally Mills

Responses of organisms to even low doses of contaminants

sparks questions about clean-up at industrial sites.

10,000 Years of Feasting - Charlie Petrocci

Celebrate warmer temperatures and head east to attend one of

Virginia’s upcoming seafood festivals.

Waste Not - Angela Correa

Two methods of transforming waste into valuable compost mutually

benefit the seafood industry and the Chesapeake Bay.

News from the Point

International …

Perkinsus Mediterraneus N. Sp., A Protistan Parasite Of The European Flat Oyster Ostrea Edulis From The Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea, Sm Casas, A Grau, K S. Reece, Et Al

VIMS Articles

A new species, Perkinsus mediterraneus, a protistan parasite of the European oyster Ostrea edulis (L.), farmed along the coast of the Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea, is described. Morphological examinations with light and transmission electron microscopy, DNA sequence-analysis and enlargement in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM) confirmed that this parasite belongs to the genus Perkinsus. Specific morphological and genetic characteristics indicated that it should be considered a new species in the genus, Sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal (ssu rRNA) gene confirmed that the parasite belongs to the genus Perkinsus, and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were distinct from …

Environmental Change In The Coastal Environment: Challenges For The Selection And Propagation Of Filter Feeding Species In Aquaculture, Stock Enhancement And Environmental Rehabilitation, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Articles

Selection of species for aquaculture, fishery stock enhancement and environmental rehabilitation or restoration in the coastal zone requires consideration of the fact that species have evolved over geological time whereas changes in the coastal environment have occurred predominantly over recent historical time, often with the largest changes occurring within the past decades of human activity. The evolutionary issue is particularly noted with filter feeding molluscs, where extant species supporting both major natural fisheries and aquaculture have ancient lineages and evolved in environments that may have differed considerably from the locally turbid, nutrient enriched, disturbed (through watershed change and local activity) …

Linking Watershed Loading And Basin-Level Carrying Capacity Models To Evaluate The Effects Of Land Use On Primary Production And Shellfish Aquaculture, Mark Luckenbach, Harry V. Wang

VIMS Articles

Aquaculture production of hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria, in the lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, U.S.A., has increased dramatically within the last decade. In recent years concern has been raised that some growing areas may be approaching the exploitation carrying capacity for clam production. Preliminary calculations indicate that large-scale intensive clam aquaculture may be controlling nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in this system. To date, carrying capacity models have not been applied to this system, but we are in the process of building models for that purpose. Moreover changing land use in the watersheds surrounding the clam-producing areas raises the need for an …