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Feature Articles
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Industry, scientist monkfish survey detailed on web site
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This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.
WOODS HOLE, MA - The long-planned-for monkfish survey cruise got off to a fine start late in February as the draggers Mary K and Drake set out to begin the systematic sampling of some 420 stations to get a clearer picture of monkfish abundance.
The survey is being conducted in three 12-day legs, with a final five-day cruise to calibrate gear. A 30-minute tow is being made at each site, with the catches of all species being weighed and with monkfish being sampled for age and growth studies.
The project is a cooperative venture between scientists with the National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and members of the industry group Monkfish Defense Fund.
In 1999, monkfish landings in the region amounted to 55 million pounds worth nearly $47 million, accounting for 24%-50% of the value of finfish landed in New Bedford, Long Branch/Barnegat Light, NJ, Point Pleasant, NJ, and Portsmouth, NH.
However, the monkfish resource was declared overfished in 1999 and federal fishery management actions have progressed to the point where the directed fishery is scheduled to be shut down on May 1, 2002.
Survey participants hope that the information they gather will answer the many unknown questions about the true status of the monkfish resource and either prove the dreaded shutdown is really justified or show that such draconian measures are not necessary.
The two vessels involved in the survey have been chartered for the project and were selected through a competitive bid process. The Mary K, owned by Pat Kavanaugh, is based in New Bedford and is being captained by Mario Vasal. The Drake, owned by Barbara Stevenson, is based in Portland. Adrian Martin-Fisher is the captain.
The entire survey process is being chronicled on an extraordinary Internet web site maintained by the NEFSC. The site includes detailed background information, survey station maps, operating procedures, at-sea photographs, and even up-to-date e-mail traffic between the scientists and fishermen involved.
Check it out at http://www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/nefsc/READ/popdy/monkfish.
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