Science

A NOAA Fisheries scallop survey off the northeastern coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts shows high numbers of juvenile "recruit" sea scallops and ocean quahogs on Georges Bank tempered with weak numbers for seed scallops in the Mid-Atlantic for 2009. This survey, which included the first successful use of a scallop dredge and high resolution underwater imaging system from the same vessel, also shows the overall biomass for the Mid-Atlantic remains high.

Scientists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) lab of NOAA Fisheries Service in Woods Hole, Mass., which has conducted the annual survey since 1979, are encouraged by the scallop numbers, the highest seen on Georges Bank since 2000. 

Researchers also observed yellowtail flounder, various skate species, and numerous invertebrates including sponges and sea stars. High densities of the invasive tunicate Didemnum were observed in one area on the northern edge of Georges Bank.

Read the complete story from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

New Bedford’s scallop industry received a double-dose of good news, as two scientific studies found strong scallop stocks and high numbers of young shellfish on Georges Bank.

"This is a really important resource, and it’s good news when two independent surveys agree," said Kevin Stokesbury, chairman of the Department of Fisheries Oceanography at the School of Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth, which undertook one of the studies.  Using six commercial fishing vessels, the SMAST video survey ran from April to June and covered around 37,000 square miles of ocean bottom.

The other survey, released Monday, August 17, was conducted by scientists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, aboard the 146-foot research vessel Hugh Sharp, using an 8-foot sea scallop dredge with a mesh liner to retain small seed scallops, in addition to deploying a high-resolution underwater camera between tows.

Read the complete story at The South Coast Today.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) has completed their cooperative sea scallop video survey and presented the results to the New England Fisheries Management Council’s Scallops Plan Development Team.

The good news for the scallop fishery is that the stock remains very strong with a total estimated meat biomass of 297.5 million lbs (worth $2.08 billion at $7.00 per lb); 63% of this stock is harvestable with a 4” ring. Overall the stock is almost exactly the same as 2008 (296.7 million lbs).  The stock has increased on Georges Bank by about 70 million lbs and decreased in the Mid-Atlantic by the same amount. The most recruitment (scallops less than 70 mm) occurred on Georges Bank in the Great South Channel, along the Northern Edge, primarily in the HAPC, and in the southeastern portion of Closed Area II. These data will be compared to the NMFS and VIMS scallop surveys to form the scientific information used to determine the 2010 fishing harvest and the state of the resource, which has been well above the overfishing threshold since 2002.

This year six fishing vessels (F/V’s Karen Nicole, Horizon, Diligence, Endeavor, Courageous and Liberty) conducted the survey covering over 60,000 km² of the US North East Continental Shelf with a 3 nautical miles grid, from 27 April to 25 June 2009. Further, high resolution surveys (1.5 nautical miles) were conducted in the closed areas of Georges Bank and the Mid-Atlantic to provide scallop density estimates with increased accuracy and precision and habitat information. In all 2,646 stations were sampled, with four quadrats taken at each station and four cameras sampling the sea floor from different angles on each quadrat. As many as fifty animals are counted in each quadrat. Two SMAST scientists and students sail with a captain, mate and crew member on each survey, while six students examine the video footage in the laboratory at SMAST.

The Sea Scallop Fishing Fleet and supporting industries donated the survey again this year, as they have each year since 2003. Each vessel donated it’s time, food was donated by New Bedford Ship Supply, fuel was donated by Dockside Repair, Warrior Fuel, Sea Fuels, Bay Fuels and three of the vessels, 98 vessels and several processors and gear retailers donated funds to pay for the captains and crews.  We are able to do this work primarily with the funds secured by members of our congressional delegation, US Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), US Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and US Sen. John Kerry (D-MA).  Our program also is supported by a variety of competitive grants.

View 2 images associated with this study: 2009 SMAST sea scallop video survey map; picture taken in Closed Area I showing 19 scallops

 

 

Sandbar, dusky and tiger sharks are among dozens of shark species living in the coastal waters off the U.S. East Coast. Little is known about many of the species, but a survey begun nearly 25 years ago is helping scientists and fishery resource managers to monitor shark populations and their role in marine ecosystems.

NOAA scientists from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) lab in Narragansett, R.I., recently conducted their ninth coastal shark survey from Florida to Delaware. The survey, conducted every two to three years, is the longest survey independent of the fishing industry of large coastal sharks in the U.S. Atlantic Ocean.

Using commercial Florida-style longline fishing methods to standardize results from survey to survey, researchers caught 1,675 sharks from 19 different species and tagged 1,352 individuals during the 2009 survey in April and May. Most of the animals caught and tagged were sandbar sharks, a common species in the western Atlantic. Longline fishing is a type of fishing that uses a long or main line with baited hooks spaced out at certain intervals along the line.

Read the complete story at Huliq News.

Sonar has long been vital to our understanding of seafloor features and marine creatures. Now, researchers at the University of New Hampshire are employing new sonar technologies to study imperiled cod populations in New England waters.

“Cod is considered the iconic species of the New England fishery,” says Hunt Howell, UNH professor of zoology. “There are concerns about their population status, so using acoustic technologies can help researchers learn more about their abundance and habitat preferences.” 

Multi-beam sonar has been used to map ocean bottom characteristics, but researchers are now applying the technology to estimate cod abundance and spatial distribution. With funding provided by N.H. Sea Grant, Chris Gurshin, a Ph.D. candidate in zoology at UNH, is working with Howell to demonstrate the advantage of multi-beam sonar over more traditional methods of fisheries stock assessment.  

Read the complete story at UNH Media Relations.

What happens if there’s no more "shell" in shellfish?

A new documentary on Discovery’s Planet Green network, Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification (premiering Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, and repeating throughout the month), explores this and other questions related to ocean acidification, a little-known but potentially disastrous consequence of global warming.

Known by some scientists as "the other carbon problem," the increased amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (caused by the burning of fossil fuels) also have been absorbed into the world’s oceans during the past 200 years, the documentary says. The oceans cover 70% of the planet’s surface.

Read the complete story at USA Today.

The Eastern Region Acquisition Division (ERAD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norfolk, VA is soliciting quotes, on behalf of the Ecosystem Survey Branch and the Cooperative Research Program of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for priority research projects relative to Northeast fisheries. The research will emphasize industry based fishery independent trawl survey practices that will assist in filling data gaps relative to flatfish stock assessments. The vessels shall be involved in conducting a trawl net sweep comparison study and biological sampling of flatfish populations in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England.
The purpose of the sampling will be:
(1) to conduct experimental work to estimate net efficiency for each net used in the survey for a range of depths and habitat types; and
(2) to provide biological sampling and tagging opportunities.

The project will evaluate flatfish catchability of a Bigelow 4-seam net with rock hopper and cookie sweeps across the range of suitable flatfish habitats. While winter flounder is a priority, the survey project will broadly address flatfish catchability, and will be directed by NEFSC staff. Winter, summer and yellowtail flounder catch rates and size composition will be compared across habitat types and with inshore and offshore surveys. Results will inform discussions on the need for a dedicated flatfish survey in the future. For solicitation documents, please click on the following links.

Twin Trawl Flatfish Survey – Southern New England — DUE DATE: AUGUST 14, 2009
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0926
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=92fb9f41b9349799cbe0ded85fa3378b&_cview=0

Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey – Georges Bank — DUE DATE: AUGUST 24, 2009
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0938
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=36d648458d3675d8216c2ed1e5af90ea&_cview=0

Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey – Gulf of Maine — DUE DATE: AUGUST 24, 2009
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0937
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=d3b66119aa9614543dad1cb470bf2f7b&_cview=0

Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey– Southern New England — DUE DATE: AUGUST 24, 2009
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0927
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f4b737693a7beee0e81e95fd6a9008e3&tab=core&_cview=1&cck=1&au=&ck=

*Note – these solicitations are for vessel bids to perform work directed by NEFSC scientists.  Thus original research proposals are NOT being solicited for this work.  Application directions are included in the solicitation documents accessible through the links above.  Bids will be evaluated on a best value basis according to the following factors, listed in descending order of importance,  (1) Vessel characteristics and configuration (2) Vessel’s commercial fishing history fishing capability (3) Master’s and crew’s work experience and qualifications (4) Pertinent vessel documentation including stability letter, marine insurance coverage, and structural survey or insurance inspection and (5) Price.  Questions on the solicitations may be directed to Timothy.Wampler@noaa.gov

Also please note that there is a very short turn-around for these solicitations: August 14th for the Twin Trawl project in SNE, and August 24th for the Paired Trawl surveys, though late applications may be considered.  We apologize for the short turn-around, but would like to get projects started for the 2009 Fall season in SNE, and Spring 2010 for the other areas.  Additional industry-based cooperative research projects are planned for the 2010  Fiscal Year, and will be announced at a later date.

Cooperative flatfish trawl survey vessel solicitations have been posted on FedBizOpps https://www.fbo.gov/index

This information will also soon be posted on the Cooperative Research website at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/StateFedOff/coopresearch/

This research will emphasize industry based fishery independent trawl survey practices that will assist in filling data gaps relative to flatfish stock assessments. The vessels will be involved in conducting trawl net sweep comparison studies and biological sampling of flatfish populations in the  Gulf of  Maine , Georges Bank, and  Southern New England .  The purpose of the sampling will be (1) to conduct experimental work to estimate net efficiency for each net used in the survey for a range of depths and habitat types and (2) to provide biological sampling and tagging opportunities. The projects will evaluate flatfish catchability of a Bigelow 4-seam net with rock hopper and cookie sweeps across the range of suitable flatfish habitats. While winter flounder is a priority, the survey projects will broadly address flatfish catchability, and will be directed by NEFSC staff. Winter, summer and yellowtail flounder catch rates and size composition will be compared across habitat types and with inshore and offshore surveys. Results will inform discussions on the need for a dedicated flatfish survey in the future. For solicitation documents, please click on the following links, or go to the FedBizOpps site above and search for the appropriate solicitation number provided below.

*Note – these solicitations are for vessel bids to perform work directed by NEFSC scientists.  Thus original research proposals are NOT being solicited for this work.  Application directions are included in the solicitation documents accessible through the links below.  Bids will be evaluated on a best value basis according to the following factors, listed in descending order of importance,  (1) Vessel characteristics and configuration (2) Vessel’s commercial fishing history fishing capability (3) Master’s and crew’s work experience and qualifications (4) Pertinent vessel documentation including stability letter, marine insurance coverage, and structural survey or insurance inspection and (5) Price.  Questions on the solicitations may be directed to Timothy.Wampler@noaa.gov

Also please note that there is a very short turn-around for these solicitations: August 14th for the Twin Trawl project in SNE, and August 24th for the Paired Trawl surveys, though late applications may be considered.  We apologize for the short turn-around, but would like to get projects started for the 2009 Fall season in SNE, and Spring 2010 for the other areas.  Additional industry-based cooperative research projects are planned for the 2010  Fiscal Year, and will be announced at a later date.

Twin Trawl Flatfish Survey –  Southern New England
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0926
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=92fb9f41b9349799cbe0ded85fa3378b&_cview=0  
Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey –  Georges Bank
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0938 
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=36d648458d3675d8216c2ed1e5af90ea&_cview=0  
Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey –  Gulf of  Maine
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0937
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=d3b66119aa9614543dad1cb470bf2f7b&_cview=0  
Paired Trawl Flatfish Survey–  Southern New England
Solicitation Number: EA133F-09-RQ-0927
https://www.fbo.gov/download/90c/90c9ff62e7ac271ecc6e27b33049256e/SOLICITATION.doc

When the lunar module Eagle landed on the moon 40 years ago, I was in Denver with my five sisters, mom and dad watching the blurry, ghostly images of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin tentatively walk on a barren sea called Tranquillity. The excitement in our living room was palpable. The seemingly impossible goal that President Kennedy charted out eight years before had just happened. I felt emboldened, empowered and infused with the notion that anything is possible.

The previous summer I experienced my own exploration awakening, having the opportunity to study invertebrates at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. As a Colorado native, I was astounded to discover a wealth of life in oceans. It was a world filled with incredible diversity of forms and functions, from sea stars to lobsters to exotic small creatures, many of whose daily rhythms were profoundly linked to the far away moon and its influence on the Earth’s tides.

The Apollo triumph had an unexpected impact on how we view our oceans. It energized a new focus on the vast unexplored regions of our own home planet. And through iconic images like the Apollo 8 "Earthrise photo," an entire generation was inspired to cherish and protect our planetary home, which from the perspective of space is an ocean-dominated world.

Read the complete story at The Oregonian.

The supposedly "landmark" study doesn’t appear to include a lot of new science at all — it is essentially an extensive compilation of data that indicates what fishermen in Gloucester and elsewhere have been saying for some time: that many fish stocks are recovering nicely.

The data is based, in part, on trawling studies. And a joint independent/academic study this past spring — one of the few true independent studies in the works, given that it’s not being funded by the oil-funded Pew Environmental Trust and other agenda-driven, big-bucks giants — has already found issues with recent trawling projects.

That study, which focused on the status of winter flounder, was led by North Carolina fisherman Jim Ruhle, and raised severe questions about how NMFS arrived at its winter flounder assessment. Remember also that Ruhle’s late brother, Rhode Island’s Phil Ruhle, uncovered the infamous "Trawlgate" fiasco, when even the researchers and federal regulators had to concede their trawling nets were the wrong size for gathering the needed information — yet they still gave the admittedly flawed data a stamp of approval and used it as the basis for regulatory policy. Indeed, at least one fishing scientist who spoke to the Times last week noted that the latest figures, too, seem to present contradictory and inconclusive data for the Northeast, particularly for New England.

Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.