Animal Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia : Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2004-2008 Annual Report 1 September 2004 - 31 August 2005, Philip W. Sadler, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris, B. Gail Holliman

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Marone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2004 through 31 August 2005. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2005 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the fall 2004 directed mortality study that is a collaborative effort with the Maryland Department of Natural 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 …

The Shell Detective, Juliana M. Harding, Vicki P. Clark

Reports

The hands-on exercises in this booklet encourage students to quantitatively compare the morphology of rapa whelks with native knobbed and channelled whelks and apply these observations to biological and mathematical concepts.

Economic Contributions Of Virginia’S Commercial Seafood And Recreational Fishing Industries: A User’S Manual For Assessing Economic Impacts, James E. Kirkley, Thomas J. Murray, John Duberg

Reports

No abstract provided.

Estimating Relative Juvenile Abundance Of Ecologically Important Finfish And Invertebrates In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay (Project No. Na03nmf4570378) July 2004–June 2005, Marcel M. Montaine, Wendy A. Lowery

Reports

The fisheries trawl survey conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is the oldest continuing monitoring program (50 years) for marine and estuarine fishes in the United States. This survey provides a monthly baseline assessment of abundance of juvenile marine and estuarine fishes and invertebrates in the tidal and mainstem Chesapeake Bay. The survey provides crucial, real time data to various state, regional and national fisheries management agencies, including the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). For example, the …

Diet Analysis Of Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias Undulatus), Weakfish (Cynoscion Regalis), Blue Catfish (Ictalurus Furcatus), Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus), And Silver Perch (Bairdiella Chrysoura) In The James, York, And Rappahannock Rivers, Va, March 2004 To April 2005, Debra Parthree

Reports

A principal requirement of multispecies fisheries assessment models is well-quantified estimates of predator-prey relationships (Latour et al. 2003). Trophic interactions among populations are typically elucidated through the analysis of stomach contents. It must be recognized, however, that such interactions vary according to temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, to adequately characterize these interactions within an ecosystem, an extensive database of fish diet composition information is needed. Further, given that increased survival in the early life history stages may ultimately improve the year-class strength of a fish population (Boynton et al., 1981 ), consideration of young-of-the year (YOY) and juvenile fish diets …

Effects Of Triclosan On Growth, Viability And Fatty Acid Synthesis Of The Oyster Protozoan Parasite Perkinsus Marinus, Em Lund, P Soudant, Fle Chu, E Harvey, S Bolton, A Flowers

VIMS Articles

Perkinsus marinus, a protozoan parasite of the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica, has severely impacted oyster populations from the Mid-Atlantic region to the Gulf of Mexico coast of North America for more than 30 yr. Although a chemotherapeutic treatment to reduce or eliminate P. marinus from infected oysters would be useful for research and hatchery operations, an effective and practical drug treatment does not currently exist. In this study, the antimicrobial drug triclosan 5-chloro-2-(2,4 dichlorophenoxy) phenol, a specific inhibitor of Fab1 (enoyl-acyl-carrier-protein reductase), an enzyme in the Type 11 class of fatty acid synthetases, was tested for its effects on viability, …

Comparative Analysis Of Mycobacterial Infections In Wild Striped Bass Morone Saxatilis From Chesapeake Bay, Im Kaattari, Mw Rhodes, H Kator, Sl Kaattari

VIMS Articles

During an ongoing epizootic of mycobacteriosis, wild striped bass Morone saxatilis from Chesapeake Bay were analyzed using 3 methods for detection of either mycobacterial infection or associated granulomatous pathology. The specific detection techniques, which utilized aseptically collected splenic tissue, were histology, quantitative culture and nested PCR. Based on analysis of 118 samples, detection of infection differed significantly between the 3 methods (chi-square, p = 0.0007). Quantitative culture and nested PCR detected similar, higher rates of infection (69 and 75%, respectively) than the histological method (52%). Although primary PCR assays for a 924 to 940 bp segment of the mycobacterial 16S …

Automated Method For Determination Of Moisture In Scallop And Shrimp: A Collaborative Study, Robert A. Fisher

Reports

No abstract provided.

Production Of Spot As Live Bait For Recreational Angling, Michael J. Oesterling, Daniel G. Sennett, D. Patrick Kilduff

Reports

No abstract provided.

Identification And Partial Characterisation Of Metalloproteases Secreted By A Mesanophrys-Like Ciliate Parasite Of The Norway Lobster Nephrops Norvegicus, Hamish J. Small, Dm Neil, Et Al

VIMS Articles

A ciliate parasite, tentatively identified as Mesanophrys sp. of Norway lobsters Nephrops norvegicus, is demonstrated to secrete several proteases into the culture medium (modified Nephrops saline). Analyses using substrate-impregnated sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed 12 activity bands differing greatly in mobility in the gels. The complete inhibition of proteolytic activity by 1,10-phenanthroline indicated that the proteases are of the metallo class. The proteases were active at the physiological temperature (8 degrees C) and haemolymph pH (7.8) of the host. The proteases were selective in the degradation of several host proteins, including the myosin heavy chain, which is a major …

Estimating Relative Abundance Of Young Of Year American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Virginia Tributaries Of Chesapeake Bay (Spring 2004 Survey), 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 (hereafter referred to as FMP) for the American eel in November 4 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery dependent and fishery independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions (including Virginia) agreed to implement an annual 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 eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” …

A Review Of The Parasitic Dinoflagellates Hematodinium Species And Hematodinium-Like Infections In Marine Crustaceans, Gd Stentiford, Jeffrey D. Shields

VIMS Articles

Parasitic dinoflagellates in the genus Hematodinium are important parasites of marine Crustacea. Outbreaks of these parasites have damaged commercial stocks of Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus, snow crab Chionoecetes opilio, Tanner crab C. bairdi, American blue crab Callinectes sapidus, and velvet swimming crab Necora puber. Species of Hematodinium can reach high enough levels to regulate their host populations, but mortalities are also centred on the unfished juveniles and females, hosts not normally sampled by fisheries; hence impacts are often underreported. Seasonal prevalences of up to 85 % occur annually in many host populations; in effect, these parasites form cryptic blooms in …

Economic Activity Associated With Clam Aquaculture In Virginia – 2004, Thomas J. Murray, James E. Kirkley

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Crest, Summer 2005, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• Collaborative project gets to the bottom of oyster questions
• Rare crab may hold genetic secrets
• Shark trip brings research career full circle
• ICCAT adopts ban on "shark finning"
• Fisheries hires Fabrizio
• VIMS pair win Environmental Heroes Award
• Friedrichs and Steinberg receive faculty awards
• Trio tops citation analysis
• Fisheries partnership aids sturgeon restoration
• Researchers test beach-nourishment protocol
• CBNERR brings Bay education to local schools
• Hardaway selected to serve on national committee
• Emeritus Professor George Grant dies
• News Briefs

The Potential Economic Impacts On Virginia’S Economy Of The Closure Of One Crab Processing Plant, James E. Kirkley

Reports

No abstract provided.

Final Project Report Fisheries Extension Enhancement Plan To Enhance Education And Outreach To The Mid-Atlantic Charter Boat Fisheries, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Gill Net Labeling Methods For Fisher Identification, Christian Hager

Reports

Six methods of fisher identification were applied to gill net float lines for 230 trials. Three methods marked floats and three methods were attached to the line between floats. Nets were set and retrieved using a hydraulic net reel in order to test failure rate and remarking ease under typical field conditions. Cost and application time of each marking methods was also quantified. Two of the three float marking methods (hot brand, Sharpie® marker) experienced a 0% failure rate. The third method, however, (paint) had the highest failure rate of the study ( 10% ). Self applied float marking methods …

Developing A Vision For Land Use And Waterfront Access In Lancaster County, Lands End Planners

Reports

No abstract provided.

Mesh-Specific Catch Compositions And Size Distributions Occuring In Virginia's 2005 Winter-Spring Striped Bass Gill Net Fishery, Christian Hager

Reports

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology Of Bitter Crab Disease (Hematodinium Sp.) In Snow Crabs Chionoecetes Opilio From Newfoundland, Canada, Jeffrey D. Shields, Dm Taylor, Et Al

VIMS Articles

The parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. causes a condition known as bitter crab disease (BCD) in snow crabs Chionoecetes opilio and Tanner crabs C. bairdi. As the name of the condition implies, crabs infected with BCD are unmarketable due to their bitter flavor. We surveyed the distribution of BCD in 3 regions within the snow crab fishery of Newfoundland from 1997 to 2003. Over time, the disease has become firmly established in Conception and Bonavista Bays and persists at low levels on the Avalon fishing grounds. An epizootic occurred within Bonavista and Conception Bays in 1999 and persisted in Conception Bay …

Pilot-Scale Production Economics Of C. Ariakensis Oysters Summary Of Virginia Seafood Council Industry Grow-Out Trials (2003-2005), Thomas J. Murray

Reports

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Relative Abundance Of American Shad In Virginia Rivers 2004 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 (ASMFC 1999). Legislation enables imposition of federal sanctions on fishing in those states that fail to comply with the FMP. To be in compliance, coastal states are required to implement and maintain fishery-dependent and fishery-independent monitoring programs as specified by the FMP. For Virginia, these requirements include spawning stock assessments, the collection of biological data on the spawning run (e.g., age-structure, sex ratio, and …

National Coastal Assessment Program Assessing Virginia’S Estuaries And Tidal Tributaries To Chesapeake Bay And The Atlantic Ocean (Five Year Report 2000 - 2004), Marcel M. Montane, Wendy A. Lowry

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) was contracted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Coastal Assessment (NCA) by collecting fish at pre-determined stations and obtaining information on community structure of fish and invertebrates and bottom habitat. Over each of the first five years of NCA, samples of fish (five chosen target species) have been collected for delivery to DEQ for subsequent tissue analysis. A five-year SAS dataset containing all pertinent information has been produced. This report summarizes Virginia NCA field studies from 2000 through 2004.

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 37, No. 1, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In this Issue

Brave New World - Charlie Petrocci 2

Taking Over the Neighborhood - Sally Mills 7

Angling for Answers - Kon Lucy 14

A New Niche for Fluke - Andrea Correa de Yalowitz 18

News From the Point 20

Status Of The Major Oyster Diseases In Virginia 2004 A Summary Of The Annual Monitoring Program, Ryan Carnegie, Eugene M. Burreson

Reports

2004 was the second very wet year in a row. While rainfall and streamflows were normal in winter and early spring, and just slightly above average during the summer, the fall of 2004 was nearly as wet as the year before. Salinities were again depressed throughout the lower Bay. Water temperatures were below normal during the winter, but typical otherwise. Low salinities and, in the winter, temperatures brought continued abatement in the oyster diseases caused by Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) and Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX). Among quarterly James River Survey sites, maximum annual P. marinus prevalences were the lowest they had been …

Introduction: Management Of Sharks And Their Relatives (Elasmobranchii), John A. Musick

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

This publication describes the scientific principles and techniques used for resource management of elasrnobranch fisheries with emphasis on the particular context of elasmobranchs. The management characteristics of these fishes are described - their common bycatch character and their biological constraints on productivity (low growth rate, late maturity and Tow fecundity). Stock assessment of elasrnobranchs is described in the context of rnanagement objectives in a wide management context. Special attention is given to accurate species identification given the prevalent aggregating of landings data across species, genera and often families in this group. Techniques and experiences for tagging elasmobranchs for population estimation …

Shark Utilization, John A. Musick

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Sharks and their relatives provide a multitude of usable products including: meat, fins, liver, skin, cartilage and jaws and teeth. Unfortunately, tens of millions of sharks taken in fisheries each year have their fins removed and their carcasses discarded overboard (Fowler and Musick, 2002). This practice, called finning, represents a considerable waste as the fins on average make up only about 5 % of the total weight of a shark (Vannuccini, 1999). Such waste is contrary to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Article 7.2.2 (g)) which stresses the importance of avoiding …

Marketing Virginia Croakcer, Stuart A. O'Bier

Reports

In the early 90's croaker stocks were at a low ebb and few were caught. But then stocks rebounded and for the last nine years or so 26 to 28 million pounds a year of the fish have been caught nationally. Croaker catch in the Chesapeake Bay followed a similar trend ranging between 10 and 15 million pounds for the years 1996 to 2003. National Marine Fisheries statistics trace out this resurgence in catch.

These big catch numbers will almost inevitably decline and may be doing so already. Large number of croakers were caught all through the 70's and then …

Investigation Of The Life History Of The Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera Bonasus (Mitchill 1815), Donna S. Grusha

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Nursery Delineation, Movement Patterns, And Migration Of The Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus Plumbeus, In The Eastern Shore Of Virginia Coastal Bays And Lagoons, Christina L. Conrath

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The identification and delineation of nursery areas and areas of aggregation of north Atlantic sharks has been identified as an important information need for future management efforts. The objectives of this project were to use a fishery-independent method to study the overwintering area of juvenile sandbar sharks, to spatially delineate the Eastern Shore nursery area, and to examine movement patterns and space use within this nursery area. Data from 21 satellite transmitters attached to large juvenile sandbar sharks revealed that these sharks primarily occurred off the outer banks of North Carolina, at deeper depths and colder water temperatures during the …