Animal Sciences Commons^™

Blue Crab Industry - Oyster Aquaculture Training And Transition June 2011- June 2012 Final Report, Matthew Richmond

Reports

No abstract provided.

Harmful Algal Bloom (Hab) Primer For The Virginia Shellfish Industry, Kimberly S. Reece, Karen Hudson

Reports

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of The Economic Impacts Of Recreational Boating In Virginia, Thomas J. Murray

Reports

Virginia is home to more than 200,000 recreational boats, providing a gateway to marine recreation in Chesapeake Bay and offshore waters. Virginia’s importance to boating access carries with it an expanding economy related to boating and boating related industries.

In addition to the large group of boater-citizens who reside in Virginia, local marine businesses such as marinas also provide access and berthing to many non-locally owned watercraft. While watercraft registrations provide a partial and useful estimate of the stock of boats in a region, the true economic impact arising from recreational boating primarily depends upon the type of boats as …

Reducing Yellowtail Flounder Bycatch In The Sea Scallop Dredge Fishery: Twine Top Modifications, Kelli Milleville Wright, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

2012 Cultchless (Single Seed) Oyster Crop Budgets For Virginia User Manual, Karen Hudson, Dan Kauffman, Thomas J. Murray, Alexander Solomon

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Project For Assessing The Socioeconomic Issues Facing Maryland’S Working Waterfront; An Inventory Of The Choptank River Watershed, Thomas J. Murray

Reports

No abstract provided.

Simulated Performance Of Catch Curve Methods For Estimating Total Mortality Rate, Matthew W. Smith, John M. Hoenig

Reports

This document has been issued as VIMS Data Report 60 and provides additional simulation results for Smith et al. (2012) published in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. Catch curve methods are a basic tool of population dynamics for estimating total mortality rate from age composition. There are a number of methodological issues which remain unresolved. Smith et al. (2012) attempts to provide guidelines on the use of these methods based on extensive Monte Carlo simulations. This report presents additional simulation results to supplement the results in the journal article. The estimators, evaluation criteria, simulation procedures, and conditions simulated …

Anthropogenic Noise Is Associated With Reductions In The Productivity Of Breeding Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Caitlin R. Kight, Margaret S. Saha, John P. Swaddle

Arts & Sciences Articles

Although previous studies have related variations in environmental noise levels with alterations in communication behaviors of birds, little work has investigated the potential long-term implications of living or breeding in noisy habitats. However, noise has the potential to reduce fitness, both directly (because it is a physiological stressor) and indirectly (by masking important vocalizations and/or leading to behavioral changes). Here, we quantified acoustic conditions in active breeding territories of male Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis). Simultaneously, we measured four fitness indicators: cuckoldry rates, brood growth rate and condition, and number of fledglings produced (i.e., productivity). Increases in environmental noise …

Evaluating Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Potomac River (Spring 2012), Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

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 coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions 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 YOY eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” (ASMFC 2000). The development of these surveys began in 2000 with full implementation …

The Role Of Mycobacteriosis In Elevated Natural Mortality Of Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass: Developing Better Models For Stock Assessment And Management : A Final Report, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, John Hoenig, David Gauthier, Matthew Smith, Phil Sadler, Howard Kator, Martha Rhodes

Reports

Mycobacteriosis is a chronic systemic disease of fishes caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. The disease currently affects striped bass throughout Chesapeake Bay and prevalence is higher than 90% in certain age groups. Two recently described species, M. shottsii and M. pseudoshottsii, are the most common isolates obtained from diseased fish and are considered the primary etiologic agents. Recent indications that natural mortality (M) has become elevated in Chesapeake Bay striped bass and that mycobacteriosis may be the underlying cause, has caused concern among fishermen, fisheries managers and scientists. However, fundamental questions, such as transmission mode, duration of …

An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In Selected Areas: Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, Hudson Canyon Closed Area, And The Delmarva Closed Area, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul, Jessica Bergeron

Reports

No abstract provided.

Final Report : An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In Open Access Areas: New York Bight And The Southern New England Area, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In A Selected Closed Area: Delmarva Closed Area, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Final Report: An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In A Selected Closed Area: Georges Bank Closed Area Ii, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 44, No. 2, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In This Issue

Research Ready 2

Virginia Sea Grant supports a portfolio of science and social science research that has tangible benefits for coastal ecosystems and communities. Some of these exciting research efforts are featured in this issue.

Terrapin Files 4

Diamondback terrapins face a variety of threats—from coastal development to crab fishing. A team of VASG-funded researchers are mapping terrapin habitat and threats to aid in the development of effective management strategies.

Nutrient Flow in Clam Aquaculture 8

Virginia’s Eastern Shore is home to a fast-growing clam aquaculture in - dustry. This photo-essay features research on the effects of …

Constraints On Acoustic Signaling Among Birds Breeding In Secondary Cavities: The Effects Of Weather, Cavity Material, And Noise On Sound Propagation, John P. Swaddle, Caitlin R. Kight, Saji Perera, Eduardo Davila-Reyes, Shena Sikora

Arts & Sciences Articles

Increasing evidence suggests that anthropogenic noise from urbanization affects animal acoustic communication. We investigated whether the begging calls of nestling Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) varied along a disturbance gradient of ambient noise. Contrary to our prediction and the results of a previous study of nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), we found that nestling Eastern Bluebirds did not increase the amplitude or structural characteristics—including frequency, rate, and duration—of their vocalizations in response to ambient noise. However, we found that prevalent temperature and humidity conditions attenuated begging calls. Specifically, in warmer, more humid weather, vocalizations of nestling Eastern …

Circle Hooks In Commercial, Recreational, And Artisanal Fisheries: Research Status And Needs For Improved Conservation And Management, Je Serafy, Sj Cooke, Ga Diaz, John Graves, Et Al

VIMS Articles

The intent of convening the International Symposium on Circle Hooks in Research, Management, and Conservation was to yield a contemporary, science-based assessment of the management and conservation utility of circle hooks in commercial, recreational, and artisanal fisheries around the globe. The symposium objective was to provide a forum for individuals, organizations, and agencies to share relevant research results and perspectives. Based on the presentations, an examination of the literature, and the collective experience and knowledge of the authors, we provide a brief overview of the current status of circle hook research along with a list of research needs, with a …

Incorporating Circle Hooks Into Atlantic Pelagic Fisheries: Case Studies From The Commercial Tuna/Swordfish Longline And Recreational Billfish Fisheries, John Graves, Az Horodysky, Dw Kerstetter

VIMS Articles

An emerging body of literature has demonstrated the benefits of the use of circle hooks relative to standard J-hooks in commercial and recreational fisheries. In the pelagic longline fishery for tunas (Thunnus spp.) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758), the use of circle hooks has resulted in greater catch rates of some target species, lower catch rates of some bycatch species, and a higher percentage of many target and bycatch species alive at the time of haulback (gear retrieval). However, a lack of agreement among results of studies conducted in different fisheries and areas, using different baits and rigging techniques, …

2012 Annual Report Estimating Relative Juvenile Abundance Of Ecologically Important Finfish In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay, Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

Reports

No abstract provided.

Acoustic Space Is Affected By Anthropogenic Habitat Features: Implications For Avian Vocal Communication, Caitlin R. Kight, Mark H. Hinders, John P. Swaddle

Arts & Sciences Articles

Human-altered landscapes often include structural features, such as higher levels of impervious surface cover (ISC) and less vegetation, that are likely to affect the transmission of avian vocalizations. We investigated the relationships between human habitat modifications and signal transmission by measuring four acoustic parameters—persistence, reverberation, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of broadcast tones, as well as absolute ambient noise level—in each of 39 avian breeding territories across an anthropogenic disturbance gradient. Using a geographic information system, we quantified the amounts of different habitat features (e.g., ISC, grass, trees) at each site; a principal component analysis was used to identify which of …

Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation And Outlook Report : Results Of The 2011 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Crop Reporting Survey, Thomas J. Murray, Karen Hudson

Reports

The shellfish aquaculture industry in Virginia continues to grow, adding significant value to the state’s seafood marketplace. Today, watermen continue to harvest both hard clams and oysters from the state’s public resources, albeit at diminished rates. At the same time, Virginia’s watermen-farmers are providing growing quantities of additional quality shellfish to consumers. In recent years, folliowing the lead of the hard clam industry, a significant transition to intensive aquaculture of native oysters is underway. The once-extensive oyster planting utilizing wild seed has contracted primarily as a result of endemic oyster diseases and increasing wildlife predation of seed oysters. In its …

Annual Report - 2011 Data Collection And Analysis In Support Of Single And Multispecies Stock Assessments In Chesapeake Bay: The Chesapeake Bay Multispecies Monitoring And Assessment Program, Christopher F. Bonzek, James Gartland, Debra J. Gauthier, Robert J. Latour

Reports

Historically, fisheries management has been based on the results of single-species stock assessment models that focus on the interplay between exploitation level and sustainability. There currently exists a suite of standard and accepted analytical frameworks (e.g., virtual population analysis (VPA), biomass dynamic production modeling, delay difference models, etc.) for assessing the stocks, projecting future stock size, evaluating recovery schedules and rebuilding strategies for overfished stocks, setting allowable catches, and estimating fishing mortality or exploitation rates. A variety of methods also exist to integrate the biological system and the fisheries resource system, thereby enabling the evaluation of alternative management strategies on …

Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program Annual Report 2011, Susanna Musick, Lewis Gillingham

Reports

Through 2011, the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program has maintained a 17-year database of records for tagged and recaptured fish. The program is a co-operative project of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament (under the Virginia Marine Resources Commission-VMRC) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) of the College of William and Mary (under the VIMS Marine Advisory Program).

Monitoring Relative Abundance Of American Shad In Virginia Rivers 2011 Annual Report, Eric J. Hilton, Rob Latour, Brian Watkins, Ashleigh Magee

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 …

Abstracts Of Technical Papers, Presented At The 104th Annual Meeting, National Shellfisheries Association, Seattle, Washington, March 24–29, 2012, National Shellfisheries Association

VIMS Articles

No abstract provided.

Estimating Relative Abundance Of Young-Of-Year American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Virginia Tributaries Of Chesapeake Bay (Spring 2011), Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

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 coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions 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 YOY eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” (ASMFC 2000). The development of these surveys began in 2000 with full implementation …

Northeast Area Monitoring And Assessment Program (Neamap) 2011 Data Collection And Analysis In Support Of Single And Multispecies Stock Assessments In The Mid‐Atlantic: Northeast Area Monitoring And Assessment Program Near Shore Trawl Survey, Christopher F. Bonzek, James Gartland, Debra J. Gauthier, Robert J. Latour

Reports

Concerns regarding the status of fishery‐independent data collection from continental shelf waters between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and the U.S. / Canadian border led the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Management and Science Committee (MSC) to draft a resolution in 1997 calling for the formation of the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) (ASMFC 2002). NEAMAP is a cooperative state‐federal program modeled after the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP), which has been coordinating fishery‐independent data collection south of Cape Hatteras since the mid‐ 1980s (Rester 2001). The four main goals of this new program directly address …

Northeast Area Monitoring And Assessment Program (Neamap) 2011 Data Collection And Analysis In Support Of Single And Multispecies Stock Assessments In The Mid-Atlantic: Northeast Area Monitoring And Assessment Program Near Shore Trawl Survey Final Report, Christopher F. Bonzek, James Gartland, Debra J. Gauthier, Robert J. Latour

Reports

Concerns regarding the status of fishery-independent data collection from continental shelf waters between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and the U.S. / Canadian border led the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Management and Science Committee (MSC) to draft a resolution in 1997 calling for the formation of the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) (ASMFC 2002). NEAMAP is a cooperative state-federal program modeled after the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP), which has been coordinating fishery-independent data collection south of Cape Hatteras since the mid1980s (Rester 2001). The four main goals of this new program directly address the …

Product Development For Cownose Ray Final Report, Robert A. Fisher

Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia, Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2010-2014 : Progress Report, 1 September 2010 - 31 August 2011, Philip W. Sadler, Matthew W. Smith, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris, Lydia M. Goins

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2010 through 31 August 2011. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2011 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the study that documents the prevalence of mycobacterial infections of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay. 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 …