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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 32 Number 7
March 2005
Trawl surveys ask for fixed gear cooperation
WEST BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME - As cooperative research money has become available one of the needs identified for using some of that funding is to have more survey information about fish and shellfish stocks.
In what is described as a win-win situation all around, commercial fishing boats with their experienced captains are contracted to tow random survey stations, as well as fishermen selected tows in some projects. Trained people on deck then count, measure, and record everything that comes out of the codend. Scientists can then use that information in doing their stock assessment work, which becomes the basis of management decisions.
Two project examples that have become familiar to nearshore fishermen are the Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, which is in its fifth year, and the Industry-Based Survey for Gulf of Maine Cod Pilot Study, now in its second year.
Both surveys collect groundfish and lobster data that are used to complement existing state and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) surveys.
The ME-NH inshore survey, in fact, has been recognized as sampling a different portion of the Gulf of Maine lobster population, capturing many of the pre-recruitment lobsters that are largely missed by the NMFS trawl surveys, according to John Sowles of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR).
Since there is now a four-year time series, the state was able to provide the survey data to the team of scientists working on the current lobster stock assessment.
“The NMFS survey doesn’t see pre-recruits, ours does,” Sowles said, which is an indication of its importance to the lobster industry.
Move traps
The success of information gathering by both of these surveys relies on the cooperation of lobstermen. Frequently the random tow stations coincide with bottom already being fished by traps.
“We ask the lobstermen to help by moving their gear for the tow,” said Sowles.
It’s a process well known to Maine and New Hampshire lobstermen because the DMR has followed the same routine since the full-blown spring and fall surveys started in 2001. Tow track charts are mailed to each lobster zone council representative for distribution and all license holders receive a more general version with dates and Loran TDs.
“I feel we are doing everything possible to reach out to fishermen. We’ve tried to do what they’ve asked,” Sowles said.
Despite the effort to gain cooperation, the fall and spring surveys have been able to complete only about three-quarters of their tows. In the early years of the survey, unfamiliarity with bottom contours accounted for some of the incomplete results.
Now, though, it in large part has to do with traps still in the tows, according to DMR’s Sally Sherman, who participates aboard the survey dragger.
Sometimes, the boat makes an alternative tow on bottom suggested by a lobsterman, Sherman said, since a tow is acceptable within a 2-mile radius of the tow station.
“There’s no gear on the alternative site,” she said, which also often means there are no lobsters or fish.
Fewer lobsters
Initially inshore survey data was seen as an advantage for establishing the strength of the Gulf of Maine lobster stock. But analysis of the four years of survey data is beginning to show a downward trend in the abundance of lobsters, particularly in the Downeast regions.
That concerns Sowles, who thinks the lack of tow completions may be affecting the trend more than a lack of lobsters.
“We need cooperation to get the tows in,” he said. “It is important to the lobster fishery to help us get the good data.
The spring inshore survey is expected to get underway in May.
If you have questions or would like a copy of survey reports to date, contact Sowles at (207) 633-9518.
More outreach
The 2005 industry-based cod survey was already in progress in late February and was expected to run until early May.
Bill Hoffman, MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) project manager for the industry-based survey, agrees that cooperation from lobstermen is vital to survey success and he is stepping up outreach efforts to them.
He has mailed out copies of the survey package, which includes a description of tow locations and dates as well as charts marked with the stations, to Maine lobster zone councils. He has asked their help in distributing the information and in putting up posters in local gear stores and dealer locations.
In its second year, Hoffman said the survey team is learning more about VHF channels used by lobster boats in a given area. The captains on the survey vessels try to establish communications and he urges lobstermen to call them on Channel 16 or by cell phone with any questions or concerns.
Since the DMR marine patrol does not accompany these survey boats, they are not able to move traps in order to make tows. The survey is completing about two-thirds of its assigned tows, but only about 50% are being accomplished off Maine’s state waters.
Hoffman hopes that completion rate will improve as there’s better communication.
“The last thing we want is a gear conflict,” he said, which is costly especially in terms of lost time.
“But it is important to get in all the tows. We need the distribution of data points. Holes in the data we are collecting decreases its value.”
He said, “The best thing for lobstermen to do is if they see the (survey) vessel, give them a call.”
Counting cod
The industry-based survey project, which has funding through 2006, fishes trawl gear specifically designed and tested to catch cod, Hoffman said. It uses a 2-seam high rise net, with a rock hopper sweep and no tickler chains, that is spread by towing Bison trawl doors, which are as light as possible.
While cod is the priority, the survey team also records all multispecies and lobsters. The lobsters are weighed, measured, sexed, and returned to the water alive, near the towing station.
The survey includes the same four otter trawl vessels that were used as sampling platforms in the 2003/2004 survey. They include: 67’ Jocka, out of Cundy’s Harbor, ME, working primarily Downeast Maine stations; 66’ Titan of Portland, ME sampling areas off midcoast Maine; 56’ Lisa Ann II of Newburyport covering stations from Cape Ann into southern Maine; and 76’ Lady Jane from Gloucester sampling from Chatham to Cape Ann.
The survey vessels complete tows that are 200’ wide and 1.5 miles long around a specific station. Therefore, this amount of open bottom is required around each of the stations for one brief period during each of the five legs of the survey (i.e., five times between Nov. 14, 2004 and May 31, 2005).
For more information, check out the DMF web site at <www.mass.gov/marinefisheries> and click on Industry-Based Survey for Gulf of Maine Cod Pilot Study under the Program and Projects heading.
To reach Bill Hoffman, call (978) 282-0308 ext. 106. Hoffman is often at sea during the survey times.
Fishing vessels involved in the survey can be contacted via VHF Channel 16 and/or 13 or by cell phone.
Susan Jones
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