Haddock Caught Research Articles

Fishery‐Scale Discard Mortality Rate Estimate for Haddock in the Gulf of Maine Recreational Fishery

AbstractEmpirical discard mortality rate estimates are vital to both stock assessments and fishery management, especially for stocks that experience high discard rates, such as in the recreational rod‐and‐reel fishery for Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus in the Gulf of Maine. The objective of the present study was to derive a fishery‐scale discard mortality rate estimate for Haddock that are captured and released in the Gulf of Maine recreational fishery by combining results of an electronic‐tagging telemetry experiment with representative fishery‐dependent survey data. Scientific personnel and industry partners collected data on a suite of biological, environmental, and technical covariates from 2,442 Haddock caught under authentic fishery scenarios during 2015. Despite being a physoclistous species, <1% of sampled Haddock were observed to die when brought onboard and only ~3% floated upon release. Postrelease fate was then monitored for 154 Haddock using passive acoustic telemetry and determined using a semiquantitative classification procedure reliant upon movement data of Haddock with known fates. The resulting data were analyzed with a parametric survival model to identify which capture‐related covariates influenced mortality. Fishing season and length‐class of Haddock were the most significant predictors of discard mortality, with increased mortality for smaller individuals caught during the autumn, possibly due to increased temperatures. Survival modeling identified that mortality from these covariates occurred primarily after release as compared with during capture and handling. By integrating survival modeling results with fishery‐dependent observations, a fishery‐scale discard mortality rate of 63% was estimated for the 2015 fishing year. Based on these findings, we recommend that fishery managers implement measures to reduce recreational Haddock discards, especially of smaller Haddock during warmer months.

Effect of trawling with traditional and ‘T90’ trawl codends on fish size and on different quality parameters of cod Gadus morhua and haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus

The effect of trawling on fish size and on different quality parameters of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) was evaluated after conducting 16 valid hauls using two trawls in a double rig fitted with a traditional and a novel ‘T90’ codend, respectively. The total catch volume during the fishing period was 47.6 metric tons, with an average catch per codend of 1.5 (range 0.5–2.9) tons. The mean haul duration was 5 h. The catch was assessed according to fish size, mortality, external damage, initial white muscle pH and development of rigor mortis. Fillet quality (colour, blood spots, gaping) was assessed after 1 week of freeze-storage. Our results showed there was no difference between the two types of nets in terms of catch volume, but significantly slightly bigger fish were caught with T90 than with the traditional trawl net (p < 0.05). Haddock caught with the traditional trawl net had more external injuries related to the trawl gear than haddock caught with the T90 gear (p < 0.05). The gaping frequency for cod caught with the traditional trawl net tended to be higher than cod caught with the T90 gear, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.07). No other differences in fish quality between fish caught in the trawl nets were observed.

Longlining haddock with manufactured bait to reduce catch of Atlantic cod in a conservation zone

A manufactured bait, Norbait © 700E, and two natural baits, clams and herring, were tested to compare catch of haddock and Atlantic cod using longlines in a cod conservation zone. Trials on a commercial fishing vessel demonstrated that the manufactured bait had the lowest catches of cod and the lowest ratio of cod to legal-sized haddock compared to either natural bait. Interactions of bait type, area of set, and trip confounded the effects of bait on catch. Based on the haddock catch per unit effort (CPUE), estimates of economic viability using only the manufactured bait suggested that a fishery may be infeasible. Use of Norbait © to limit Atlantic cod bycatch in haddock longline fisheries may require fishery-by-fishery evaluation.

Bycatch reduction in the Northeast USA directed haddock bottom trawl fishery

We investigated the performance of a large mesh faced (upper and lower wings, side panels, first bottom belly) bottom trawl designed to capture haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus) while reducing the bycatch of cod ( Gadus morhua) and other species. This experimental net, named the Eliminator Trawl™, was tested using two vessels, F/V Iron Horse and F/V Sea Breeze, in side-by-side catch comparison hauls with the currently regulated net. A total of 100 successful comparison tows were completed. All species captured were weighed for total weight. Haddock, cod, and the majority of the flounders were measured. The Eliminator Trawl™ significantly reduced the catch of stocks of concern including cod, yellowtail flounder ( Limanda ferruginea), winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus), witch flounder ( Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), and American plaice ( Hippoglossoides platessoides). Other species such as monkfish ( Lophius americanus) and skate (unclassified) also showed a significant decrease in catch in the Eliminator Trawl™. In addition, the catch of haddock, the target species, did not differ significantly between nets. The results of this study indicate that the Eliminator Trawl™ would be an efficient tool in gaining access to closed areas and used in recovery programs to exploit more abundant fish species. Examples in the Northeast USA include a B Days-at-Sea Program (DAS) as well as a Special Access Program (SAP) where the Eliminator Trawl™ appears to meet the minimum bycatch requirements to be considered for both these programs.

A year-long trial of a square mesh panel in a commercial demersal trawl

Trials were carried out to evaluate the effects of a square mesh panel on the catches of a demersal trawl during normal commercial fishing operations over a period of 1 year. A 100 mm cod-end fitted with a 90 mm mesh square mesh panel between 6.3 and 9.3 m from the cod-line was compared with an identical cod-end with no panel, attached to the same net, using the alternate haul method. The square mesh panel significantly reduced the catch of undersized whiting (by an estimated 34%; p < 0.001) and of whiting greater than the minimum landing size up to lengths of about 32 cm ( p < 0.05). However, the square mesh panel had no significant effect on the catches of haddock, cod or monkfish. Hauls with a small-mesh cod-end showed that large numbers of small haddock were present in the areas where the trials were carried out. Few of these fish were retained by the normal cod-end, either with or without the square-mesh panel, suggesting that fitting the square mesh panel did not appreciably improve the selectivity of the cod-end design used in these trials.

Gear performance and catch comparison trials between a single trawl and a twin rigged gear

The fishing and engineering performance of single and twin rigged scraper trawls were compared during trials aboard a commercial fishing boat. These trawls had differences both in performance and in mean catch. There were three major differences in the geometry of the two gears (door spread, wing spread and bridle angle) and thus the area of seabed effectively fished by each. This investigation attempted to assess whether these differences in performance parameters can account for the observed differences in mean catch for each species. The twin trawl significantly out-fished the single trawl for haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus) (22%), flatfish (plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa) and lemon sole ( Microstomas kit)) (67%), anglerfish ( Lophius piscatorius) (120%), Nephrops ( Nephrops norvegicus) (421%) and by-catch (22%). The increased catch of haddock and by-catch appeared to be simply a function of the area effectively fished by the two gears. However, even over the same swept area the twin trawl was still more effective at catching anglerfish (81%), flatfish (40%) and Nephrops (340%). Analysis of bridle herding efficiency demonstrated that anglerfish and flatfish may have been herded more effectively by the twin trawl bridles, which had the smaller angle of attack. No definite explanation can be provided for the greatly increased Nephrops catch in the twin rigged trawl. However, it is suggested that differences in ground gear shape for the two gears could imply different ground gear contact, and hence different fishing efficiencies for ground living species such as Nephrops. There was no evidence of diurnal variation within the Nephrops catch.

Effects of seismic shooting on local abundance and catch rates of cod ((Gadus morhua) and haddock )(Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

To determine whether seismic exploration affected abundance or catch rates of cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), acoustic mapping and fishing trials with trawls and longlines were conducted in the central Barents Sea 7 days before, 5 days during, and 5 days after seismic shooting with air guns. Seismic shooting severely affected fish distribution, local abundance, and catch rates in the entire investigation area of 40 × 40 nautical miles.Trawl catches of cod and haddock and longline catches of haddock declined on average by about 50% (by mass) after shooting started, which agreed with the acoustic abundance estimates; longline catches of cod were reduced by 21%. Reductions in catch rates were observed 18 nautical miles from the seismic shooting area (3 × 10 nautical miles), but the most pronounced reduction occurred within the shooting area, where trawl catches of both species and longline catches of haddock were reduced by about 70% and the longline catches of cod by 45%; a relatively greater reduction was found (in catches and acoustic estimates) for large (>60 cm) than for small fish. Abundance and catch rates did not return to preshooting levels during the 5-day period after seismic shooting ended.

Demersal pair trawl cod-end selectivity models

Experiments to examine the selectivity of Scottish demersal pair trawls were carried out using a new version of the covered cod-end technique. The small mesh cover was supported by flexible hoops designed to hold the cover netting clear of the test cod-end and thus reduce masking of the cod-end meshes by the cover. Two typical Scottish 447 kW North Sea pair trawlers were chartered for this work and the test cod-ends were fitted directly to their trawl gear. Combinations of three mesh sizes and three cod-end diameters were tested and catches of haddock, whiting and cod sampled. Both mesh size and cod-end diameter had a higly significant effect on selectivity, with 50% retention lengths increasing with increasing mesh size and decreasing cod-end diameter. Models quantifying these effects were developed.

Price formation in fisheries

Domestic landings of fish are a principal target of fisheries regulation. Since the volume of landings has a direct influence on prices, the way in which governments regulate fisheries will also affect the market for fish. The relationship between domestic landings and prices in Scotland over a 10-year period is estimated, and a number of policy implications drawn from the results. The planned reduction in the total allowable catch of haddock is given particular consideration, and it is concluded that an enforced cutback in landings may bring about a substantial reduction in the real income earned in this fishery.

International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries

The fourth annual meeting of the International Commission for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries was held in Halifax, Canada, from June 14 to 18, 1954, under the chairmanship of Dr. Stewart Bates (Canada). The Commission received and approved a report from the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics recommending modifications and additions in the Commission's system of collecting and compiling statistics. With regard to haddock regulations, the Committee had referred to one of its panels the question of a proposed amendment to the regulation exempting a specified maximum percentage of the catch of haddock to ensure that there was no hardship to fishermen. Upon the recommendation of the scientific advisers that there was no undue hardship, the Commission noted that important principles of exemption were involved, and furthur serious consideration was required. The Commission received and approved reports which dealt with the status of the fisheries, its research programs in relation to the more comprehensive research program adopted by the Commissionn i 1953, and commercial fishing regulations. The Commission chose Ottawa, Canada, as the site of its next meeting which was to be held in June 1955.

Field Experiments in Selecting the Most Efficient Tag for use in Haddock Studies

Abstract Field experiments made along the coast of Maine including 2,073 tagged haddock and 15.5 per cent recaptures have demonstrated that haddock caught by hook and line can be tagged successfully in water as deep as 30 fathoms. Three types of tags were tested: The modified Petersen disc, the bachelor button, and the internal anchor. The disc tag gave the highest initial returns, but the later recoveries were poorer. The bachelor-button tag appears to be the most efficient because of the value of the more protracted returns in estimating the rate of mortality, but it has certain mechanical defects to be corrected. The internal anchor tag gave the poorest returns owing to the early loss of the outside dangler which greatly reduced its visibility. This tag holds promise if redesigned as it appears to remain with the fish as long or longer than the button type. Returns are shown by size of fish and a break-down of time at liberty is given for each type of tag.

YOUNG HADDOCK IN THE VICINITY OF HALIFAX, N.S.

This study is based on five hundred and seventy-six haddock caught in Eastern passage and Bedford basin.The material from both localities consisted of the broods of 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931; the three-year-old fish (brood 1929) were most abundant in both places, comprising over 70%.A striking inverse relationship between water temperatures and number of fish caught was established. The highest catches were made at temperatures from 4 to 7 °C., whereas between 11 and 13 °C. only small occasional catches were obtained.

A Three-Eyed Haddock, with Notes on Other Three-Eyed Fishes

Is York Herald-Tribunie for October 9, 1927, was an announcement of capture by a fisherman on fishing schooner Marjorie Parker of a three-eyed haddock in south channel of Boston Harbor. Here it was stated that the third eye is midway between normal ones. In rotogravure section of York Times for following Sunday (October 16) was a picture with following caption: oddest fish in sea . . . a haddock caught off Boston, which was found to have three perfect eyes, third in middle of head. I then set to work to find original of photograph published in Ti;eMees. Presently I got in touch with Air. J. V. Dumas, sales manager of New York Times Wide World Photos, who courteously sent me a copy of figure referred to above and what is more to purpose of this article lie also sent a photograph showing head in closer view than is seen in figure in Times. This third eye is placed on back of head in mnedian line and looks like a perfectly good eye. Both these figures are herein reproduced as Nos. 1 and 2. The first photograph is in original 8 by 10 inches in size and shows a m-nan holding fish in his hand. This has been cut down so as here to show in Fig. 1 fish, hand holding it and part of man's coat. From second photograph (which is of same size) head of fish has been cut out and is reproduced as Fig. 2. The first figure shows that head (when compared to size of hand holding it) is evidently that of an adult fish. This does not show eye clearly. 559