Video examination of the continuing change in habitats within the closed areas of Georges Bank.

UMass Dartmouth/ SMAST, Principal Investigator: Kevin Stokesbury, Ph.D.

Project Description: Examine scallop size, abundance and spatial distribution and associated macroinvertebrate community by conducting video tows similar to previous work and further analysis of current data.

Project Period: June 2004-May 2005

 
Habitat-Dependent Catch Composition and Food Web Dynamics with Respect to Long-Term and Rolling Closures on Stellwagen Bank.

Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership, Principal Investigator: David Bergeron and Les Kaufman, Ph.D.

Project Description: Conduct trawls and jigging in and out of closed areas to compare catch rates. Also small-scale pilot studying age and growth samples using stable isotope analysis for trophic dynamic studies.

Project Period: May 2004 - May 2006

 
An Industry-Based Characterization of Essential Fish Habitat in the Western Gulf of Maine.

Cape Ann Fisheries Institute, Principal Investigator: Allan Michael

Project Description: Two Essential Fish Habitat locations (one in permanent closure area, one outside) will be selected after a review of scientific literature, group meetings and fishermen interviews. These two sites will then be evaluated using remote sensing, benthic sampling and water sampling to identify what characteristics make them essential fish habitat.

Project Period: Spring or Fall 2004 - December 2004

Reproductive Life History and Essential Fish Habitat Mapping of Western Georges Bank Cod: GIS mapping of eggs, larvae and juvenile cod.

Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Assoc., Marine Biologic Laboratory and UMass Boston, Principal Investigator: Paul Parker

Project Description: Train fishermen to conduct field and lab work. Use bongo nets to track cod progeny, evaluate effectiveness of genetics for tracking progeny, and use GIS mapping to describe geographic locations used for spawning, egg, larvae and juvenile life history stages of W. Georges Bank cod. Relate this information to Essential Fish Habitat.

Project Period: June 2004 - June 2005

 
A Proposal to Define Monkfish Trawl Exemption Areas and Monkfish Trawl Gear that will Reduce Groundfish Bycatch and the Frequency of Deployment on Groundfish Habitat.

The Groundfish Group of Associated Fisheries of Maine and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Principal Investigator: Christopher Glass

Project Description: Use commercial draggers to test new NEFMC Monkfish trawl net. Film performance for net evaluation and to provide NEFMC with necessary data on deepwater EFHs.

Project Period: 10 months

 
Identification of Juvenile Groundfish Habitat within Nearshore Waters of the Gulf of Maine.

Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Univ. of Maine, F/V De Dee Mae II and F/V Tenacious, Principal Investigator: Jonathan H. Grabowski

Project Description: Identify juvenile cod usage of habitat by type and depth to ascertain links. Sites will be sampled with small-mesh trawls comparable to DMR methods and data. Baited fish traps will also be used at each of ten depths in 4 benthic types. Links between habitat and delineated health indices will be determined.

Project Period: July 2004 - Spring 2005

 
An Assessment of Benthic community recovery in the Western gulf of Maine Closed Area.

F/V Adventurer, University of Maine and Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Principal Investigator: Laura Singer

Project Description: Use of sidescan sonar, ROV videography and quantitative sediment sampling to assess benthic habitat recovery in the W. GOM closed area.

Project Period: May 2004 - July 2005

 
A Quantitative Assessment of Substrate Changes Due to Scallop Dredging in the New York Bight and Associated Recovery Rates.

Phoel Associates, Inc., Principal Investigator: William C. Phoel, Arthur Ochse and Kenneth Ochse

Project Description: Two transects will be selected and monitored using video equipment. One transect will serve as a control and will not be manipulated while the other will be subjected to scallop dredging. Will examine the two sites to determine effect of dredging. Use information to build consensus between stakeholders in the future.

Project Period: April 2004-July 2005

 
Identifying Habitat Associations of Early-Juvenile Cod in Nearshore Gulf of Maine Waters.

Maine DMR; U Maine; F/V Tenacious; F/V North Star, Principal Investigator: Slade Moore

Project Description: Unmanned submersible and rebreather SCUBA divers will video document, and characterize habitat. Includes buying the rebreather equipment and training the researchers in how to use it.

Project Period: January 2004-June 2005

 
Development of Species-Specific Essential Fish Habitat Indices using Biological and Habitat Data Collected Using Remote Sensing.

Versar, Inc, Principal Investigator: Jon Volstad

Project Description: Video bottom mapping, sediment profiling and concurrent commercial trawling to develop quantitative indices leading to detailed mapping of species-specific Essential Fish Habitat.

Project Period: November 2003 - April 2005