Chesapeake Bay Weakfish and Spotted Seatrout
Fishery Management Plan
An Agreement Commitment Report from
the Chesapeake Executive Council
Annapolis, Maryland
December 1990
Printed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
for the
Chesapeake Bay Program
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ADOPTION STATEMENT
The Chesapeake Bay Weakfish and Spotted Trout Management Plan has been prepared
for the Chesapeake Bay Program and adopted by the Chesapeake Executive Council.
Chesapeake Executive Council:
Commonwealth of Virginia
State of Maryland
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
United States of America
District of Columbia
Chesapeake Bay Commission
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TABIiE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS j ill
i,
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iv
INTRODUCTION | vii
SECTION 1. BACKGROUND. . i 1
Life History - Weakfish j 1
Spotted Seatrout 4
Biological Profile - Weakf ish j 4
Spotted Seatrout i 5
FMP Status and Management Units ] 7
Fishery Parameters - Weakf ish i 7
Spotted Seatrout 8
Habitat Issues - Weakf ish 9
Spotted Seatrout '...' 9
The Fisheries - Weakf ish 1 10
Spotted Seatrout j. . 15
Economic Perspective - Weakf ish 15
Spotted Seatrout. ...[..„ 17
Resource Status - Weakf ish » 17
Spotted Seatrout I. . 18
Laws and Regulations - Weakf ish i. . „ 18
Spotted Seatrout. 20
Data and Analytical Needs - Weakf ish L . 21
Spotted Seatrout. 21
References 22
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Section 2. WEAKFISH AND SPOTTED SEATROUT MANAGEMENT 25
A. Goals and Objectives 25
B. Problem Areas and Management Strategies. 26
1. Overfishing I 26
2 . Stock Assessment and Research Needs > 28
3 . Habitat Loss and Degradation „ 30
4. Recreational-Commercial Conflicts..; 31
APPENDIX: Implementation Plan Matrix j
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FIGURES
1. General distribution of the weakfish, Cynoscion regalis.
along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Density of
stippling indicates areas where weakfish tend to congregate
(from: Wilk, 1976).
2. U.S. commercial landings-of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis. by
geographic region, 1940-1982.
3a-c. Weakfish commercial landings from the Chesapeake Bay,
Virginia and Maryland.
4a-d. Maryland commercial weakfish landings by gear.
5a-d. Virginia commercial weakfish landings by gear.
6a-b. Spotted seatrout commercial landings.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Chesapeake Bay Weakfish and Spotted Seatrout Management
Plan was developed under the direction of the Fisheries
Management Workgroup. Staff from the Virginia\ Marine Resources
Commission (VMRC), Fisheries Management Division (Fisheries Plans
and Statistics) had lead responsibility for writing the plan and
addressing comments on the draft versions. Support was provided
by staff from the Maryland Department of Ncitural Resources
(MDNR), Tidewater Administration, Fisheries Division.
Contributing VMRC staff included Randy Owen, Roy Insley and Erik
Earth. MDNR staff included Randy Schneider, Nancy Butowski and
Harley Speir. Thanks are due to Verna Harrision and Ed
Christoffers for guiding the plan through the development and
adoption process. Dave Packer, from the EPA Chesapeake Bay
Liaison Office, assisted with production and distribution.
Finally, we express gratitude to members of vairious Chesapeake
Bay Program committees and workgroups and to the public who
provided input on the plan. i
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Members of the Fisheries Management Workgroup were:
Mr. Mark Bundy, STAC Economic Advisory Group i
Mr. K. A. Carpenter, Potomac River Fisheries Commission
Mr. Ira Palmer, D.C. Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs
Mr. William Goldsborough, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Mr. J. W. Gunther, Jr., Virginia Waterman ,
Mr. Robert Hesser, Pennsylvania Fish Commission
Dr. Michael Hirshfield, MD Department of NaturaliResources
Dr. Edward Houde, UMCEES/Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Mr. Pete Jensen, Chair, MD Department of Natural Resources
Mr. J. Claiborne Jones, Chesapeake Bay Commission
Dr. Robert Lippson, NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service
Dr. Joseph G. Loesch, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Dr. Charles F. Lovell, Jr., M.D., Virginia
Mr. Richard Novotny, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Assoc.
Mr. Ed O'Brien, MD Charter Boat Association
Mr. James W. Sheffield, Atlantic Coast Conservation Assoc. of Va.
Mr. Larry Simns, MD Watermen's Association
Mr. Jack Travelstead, Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Ms. Mary Roe Walkup, Citizen's Advisory Committee'.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
One of the strategies for implementing the Living Resources
Commitments of the* 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement is to develop
and adopt a series of baywide fishery management plans (FMPs) for
commercially, recreationally, and selected ecologically valuable
species. The FMPs are to be implemented by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Virginia, District of Columbia,
Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and State of Maryland as
appropriate. Under a timetable adopted for completing management
plans for several important species, the weakfish and spotted
seatrout FMP was scheduled for completion in December 1990.
A comprehensive approach to managing Chesapeake Bay
fisheries is needed because biological, physical, economic, and
social aspects of the fisheries are shared among the Bay's
jurisdictions. The Chesapeake Bay Program's Living Resources
Subcommittee formed a Fisheries Management Workgroup to address
the commitment in the Bay Agreement for comprehensive, bay-wide
fishery management plans. The workgroup is composed of members
from government agencies, the academic community, the fishing
industry, and public interest groups representing Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the federal
government.
Development of. Fishery Management Plans
An FMP prepared under the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement
serves as a framework for conserving and wisely using a fishery
resource of the Bay. Each management plan contains a summary of
the fishery under consideration, a discussion of problems and
issues that have arisen, and recommended management actions.
An implementation plan is included at the end of the FMP to
provide additional details on the actions that participating
jurisdictions will take and the mechanisms for taking these
actions.
Development of a fishery management plan is a dynamic,
ongoing process. The process starts with initial input by the
Fishery Management Workgroup, is followed by public and
scientific review of the management proposals, and then by
endorsement by the appropriate Chesapeake Bay Program committees.
A management plan is adopted when it is signed by the Chesapeake
Bay Program's Executive Committee. In some cases, regulatory and
legislative action will have to be initiated, while in others,
additional funding and staffing may be required to fully
implement a management action. A periodic review of each FMP
will be conducted under the auspices of the Bay Program's Living
Resources Subcommittee, to incorporate new information and to
update management strategies as needed.
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Goal Statement !
The goal of the Chesapeake Bay Weakfish and Spotted Seatrout
Management Plan is to enhance and perpetuate weakfish and spotted
seatrout stocks in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and
throughout their Atlantic coast range, so as to generate optimum
long-term ecological, social and economic benefits from their
commercial and recreational harvest and xitilization over
time.
In order to meet this goal, a number of objectives must be
met. They include following the guidelines established by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Commission (MAFMC) for coastwide
management of the weakfish and spotted seatrout fisheries,
providing for fair allocation of the resources, promoting
efficient harvesting practices, promoting biological and economic
research and pursuing standards of environmental quality and
habitat protection. These objectives are incorporated into the
problems and management strategies discussed below.
Problem Areas and Management Strategies
Problem l: Overfishing. The weakfish is an important fishery
resource along the Atlantic coast, particularlyjbetween New York
and North Carolina. Total coastwide landings by weight have
shown a decreasing trend since 1980. Recent stock assessments
indicate that weakfish from Maryland to North Carolina are
experiencing growth and recruitment overfishing. Spotted
seatrout coastal landings are generally down from mid-1970's
levels, however, this species does not appear to be overfished.
Strategy 1: Bay jurisdictions will evaluate a number of
alternatives to control directed fishing mortality and improve
protection of weakfish beyond age I. Management options include
higher minimum size limits, reductions in by-catch and hook-and-
line creel limits. Management agencies will continue to
participate in coastal deliberations to protect small weakfish in
other coastal states. Current regulations forispotted seatrout
will be maintained. i
Problem 2: Stock Assessment and Research Needs. Bay
jurisdictions lack some of the biological and fisheries data to
effectively manage the weakfish and spotted seatrout resources.
Strategy 2: Bay jurisdictions will continue existing programs
which collect weakfish and spotted seatrout data and promote
cooperative interstate research. Additional research efforts
necessary to improve weakfish and spotted seatrout management
will be identified. j
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Problem 3: Habitat Loss and Degradation. Estuarine areas are
important to weakfish and spotted seatrout for spawning, nursery
and feeding grounds. Estuarine habitat loss and degradation in
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the Chesapeake Bay negatively impacts weakfish and spotted
seatrout abundance.
Strategy 3: The Bay jurisdictions will continue their efforts to
improve water quality and define habitat requirements for the
living resources in the Chesapeake Bay pursuant to the 1987
Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Efforts include identifying and
controlling nutrients, toxic materials, conventional pollutants,
atmospheric inputs and protecting wetlands and submerged aquatic
vegetation.
Problem 4: Recreational-Commercial Conflicts. As natural
resources decline, many recreational and commercial fishermen
increase their fishing effort. Competing recreational and
commercial interests in the Chesapeake Bay's weakfish, spotted
seatrout and other finfish fisheries has led to numerous
conflicts between these groups. Conflicts also exist between
full-time and part-time watermen.
Strategy 4: Bay jurisdictions will examine recreational-
commercial conflicts arising in Chesapeake Bay finfish fisheries
and adopt management measures as necessary to resolve the issues.
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INTRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT PLAN BACKGROUND
As part of the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement's commitment to
protect and manage the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay,
the Bay jurisdictions are developing a series of fishery
management plans covering commercially, recreationally, and
selected ecologically valuable species. Under the agreement's
Schedule for Developing Baywide Resource Management Strategies, a
list of the priority species was formulated, with a timetable for
completing fishery management plans as follows:
0 oysters, blue crabs and American shad by July 1989;
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0 striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and spotted;seatrout by 1990;
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0 croaker, spot, summer flounder and American eel by 1991; and
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0 red and black drum by 1992 " i
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A comprehensive and coordinated approach by the various
local, state and federal groups in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
is central to successful fishery management. Bay fisheries are
traditionally managed separately by Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Potomac River
Fisheries Commission (PRFC). There is also a federal Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, which has management jurisdiction for
offshore fisheries (3-200 miles), and a coast-wide organization,
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which
coordinates the management of migratory species in state waters
(internal waters to 3 miles offshore) from Maine to Florida. The
state/federal Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC)
is responsible for developing a Baywide Stock Assessment Plan,
which includes collection and analysis of fisheries information,
but does not include the development of fishery imanagement plans.
Consequently, a Fisheries Management Workgroup, under the
auspices of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Living Resources
Subcommittee, was formed to address the commitment in the Bay
Agreement for Baywide fishery management plans. The Fisheries
Management Workgroup is responsible for developing fishery
management plans with a broad-based view. i The workgroup's
members represent fishery management agencies from Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the federal
government; the Potomac River Fisheries Commission; the Bay area
academic community; the fishing industry; conservation groups;
and interested citizens. Establishing Chesapeake Bay FMP's, in
addition to coastal FMP's, creates a format to specifically
address problems that are unique to the Chesapeake Bay. They
also serve as the basis for implementing regulations in the Bay
jurisdictions.
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WHAT IS A FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN?
A Chesapeake Bay fishery management plan provides a
framework for the Bay jurisdictions to undertake compatible,
coordinated management measures to conserve and utilize a fishery
resource. A management plan includes pertinent background
information, lists management actions that need to be taken, the
jurisdictions responsible for implementation, and an
implementation timetable.
A fishery management plan is not an endpoint in the
management of a fishery; rather, it is part of a dynamic, ongoing
process consisting of several steps. The first step consists of
analyzing the complex biological, economic and social aspects of
a particular finfish or shellfish fishery. The second step
includes defining a fishery's problems, identifying potential
solutions, and choosing appropriate management strategies. Next,
the chosen management strategies are put into action or
implemented. Finally, a plan must be regularly reviewed and
updated in order to respond to the most current information on
the fishery; this requires that a management plan be adaptive and
flexible.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS
The goal of fisheries management is to protect the
reproductive capability of the resource while providing for its
optimal use by man. Fisheries management must include biological,
economic and sociological considerations in order to be
effective. Three simply stated objectives to protect the
reproductive capabilities of the resource while allowing its
optimal use include:
° quantify biologically appropriate levels of harvest;
0 monitor current and future resource status to ensure harvest
levels are conserving the species while maintaining an
economically viable fishery; and
° adjust resource status if necessary, through management
efforts.
MANAGEMENT PLAN FORMAT
The background section of this management plan summarizes:
0 natural history and biological profile of weakfish and spotted
seatrout
0 FMP status and management unit;
° fishery parameters;
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° habitat issues; '
0 historical fishery trends; i
° economic perspective;
0 current resource status;
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0 current laws and regulations in the Chesapeake Bay; and
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0 data and analytical needs. |
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The background information is derived primarily from the
document entitled, Chesapeake Bay Fisheries: Status. Trends,
Priorities and Data Needs and is supplemented with additional
data. Inclusion of this section as part of the management plan
provides historical background and basic biological information
for each of the species. 1
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The management section of the plan, which follows the
background, defines:
0 the goal and objectives for each species;
° problem areas for each species;
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0 management strategies to address each problem area; and
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° action items with a schedule for implementation.
Once the plan has been adopted by the Bay Program's
Executive Committee, appropriate administrative, regulatory and
legislative action will be initiated. A periodic review of the
management plan will be required to continually update management
strategies and actions. The Living Resources Subcommittee will be
responsible for this review. ]
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SECTION 1. BACKGROUND
Life History - Weakfish
The weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), also commonly known as the
squeteague, gray seatrout, drummer or shad trout, is a member of
the drum family, Sciaenidae. This family is known for producing a
drumming or croaking sound and that is how it acquired its name.
Only the males can produce the "drumming" sound made by
contracting special muscles around the swim bladder (Bigelow and
Schroeder 1953). Weakfish range along the Atlantic coast from
Massachusetts to Florida occasionally straying as far north as
Nova Scotia and south into the Gulf of Mexico. Weakfish are most
abundant from Rhode Island to North Carolina | (Figure 1 , from
Wilk 1976). They are found in salinities from 6.6 to 32.3 ppt and
in temperatures ranging from 9.5 to 30.8°C (49 ,,1 to 87.4°F). The
presence of more than one weakfish stock along the Atlantic coast
has been suggested by several investigators based on morphometric
and meristic characteristics, and growth ratpes (Nesbit 1954;
Perlmutter et al. 1956; Shepherd and Grimes 1983). In general,
northern weakfish live longer (up to 11 years) and grow larger
than southern weakfish (Stagg 1986). However, genetic
investigations have indicated the northern and southern
populations are genetically homogeneous (Crawford et al. 1988).
Comparisons of morphometric and mitochondrial DNA analyses
(Scoles, 1990a and McDowell et al. 1990) on the same fish have
shown that a single genetic stock exists with recognizable north
(New York) and south (Carolinas) morphometric differences. A
July 1990 ASMFC weakfish workshop recognized the Atlantic coast
weakfish population as a single unit stock.
Adults migrate inshore to estuaries, bays,! and sounds during
the spring to spawn. Comparisons of length frequencies by month
from adults entering the Chesapeake Bay in early spring show that
2 year-old and 3 year-old fish arrive at least one month ahead of
1 year-old fish (Massmann 1963). After spawning, the adults may
remain inshore or return to the ocean. It appears that a greater
proportion of adults return to ocean waters and remain there all
summer (Mercer 1983). When water temperaturesibegin to decrease
in the fall, adults begin to migrate south and offshore. The
wintering grounds of adult weakfish are unknown but evidence
suggests they overwinter along the continental! shelf from the
Chesapeake Bay to Cape Fear, North Carolina! (Merriner 1973).
Weakfish migration does not appear to be a discrete movement from
one area to another but rather one with a shifting population
center (Richards 1965).
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Spawning occurs in near-shore and estuarine waters along the
coast from March through October with peak occurrence during late
April through June (Mercer 1983). Fertilized eggs have been
collected from a range of water temperatures, 17 to 26.5°C» (62.6
to 79.7°F), and salinities between 12.1 and 31.13 ppt. Laboratory
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Figure i. General distribution of the weakfish,
Cynoseion regal is, along the Atlantic coast
of the United States. Density of stippling
indicates areas where weakfish tend to
congregate (from: Vlilk 1976).
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studies on the viability of weakfish eggs have found hatching
success reduced by sudden changes in temperature or salinity,
turbulence, and dissolved oxygen below 4.3 mg/1 (Harmic 1958).
Peak larval abundance in the Chesapeake Bay usueilly occurs during
late summer. Weakfish larvae are generally distributed throughout
the lower Bay with the highest densities near the Bay mouth and
along the eastern Bay margin (Olney 1983). The lower Chesapeake
Bay appears to be an important nursery site for larval and
juvenile weakfish including Virginia's seaside estuaries (Cowan
and Birdsong 1985). Larvae prefer low salinity waters and
probably use the net up-estuary movement of deep water in the
main channel to reach freshwater (Thomas 19730 • Larvae become
demersal at 8 mm TL (0.3 inches) and growth is rapid during the
first year reaching an average length of approximately 170 mm TL
(6.7 inches). j
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Juvenile weakfish are euryhaline, capable ;of withstanding a
broad range of salinities. They are found in low salinity waters
throughout the summer and move to high salinity waters in the
fall (Raney and Massmann 1953; Gunter and Hall 1963; Thomas
1971). Peak abundance of juvenile weakfish 'in the Maryland
portion of the Chesapeake Bay occurs during August and September
and in the Virginia portion of the Bay during September and
October (Hornick et al. 1988). The northern distribution of
juvenile weakfish in the Bay is affected by salinity. Abnormally
dry summers, accompanied by higher salinities, allow a more
northerly distribution. The largest concentrations of juvenile
weakfish in the Bay usually occur south of the Choptank River.
Juvenile weakfish usually leave the estuary cind Bay areas by
December (Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; Massmann et al. 1958;
Thomas 1971; and Chao and Musick 1977).
Young-of-the-year and yearling weakfish feed primarily on
planktonic crustaceans and small fish (Chao and Musick 1977).
Adult weakfish are top carnivores in the Chesapeake Bay and have
similar food habits to bluefish and striped bass (Lascara 1981).
Behavioral observations suggest that weakfish forage along
eelgrass beds eating blue crabs and spot. Food jhabits appear to
differ among estuarine areas. Age composition iand growth rates
have been estimated from scales, otoliths j(ear bones) and
vertebrae. Length frequencies vary from one j investigator to
another, season to season, year to year, and area to area (Mercer
1983). Growth differences between areas have been used as
evidence for subpopulations (Shepherd and Grimes 1984).
Female weakfish are slightly larger than iptiales, especially
after reaching 2 years of age, and usually live longer (Seagraves
1981). In southern populations, male weakfish reach sexual
maturity at a smaller size than female weakfish. The length at
which 50 percent of the fish are classified as having mature
ovaries or testes is considered the size at which sexual maturity
is attained. For southern males (North Carolina), sexual maturity
is reached between 130 and 150 mm SL (5 to 6J inches) and for
females between 145 mm and 190 mm SL (5.7 toj 7.5 inches). In
northern populations (Delaware Bay and north), 'size at maturity
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is similar for both sexes. Both males and females reach maturity
around 254 mm (10 inches). Weakfish males and females probably
reach sexual maturity by age 1 throughout their geographic range
with a 100 percent maturity by age 2 (Merriner 1976). Fecundity,
number of eggs produced, increases with age. An age 0 female (a
fish with no scale annulus or age ring) produces an average of
45,000 eggs, with production increasing to 1,726,000 eggs at age
IV (Merriner 1976).
Life History - Spotted Seatrout
Spotted seatrout range from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to
Carmen Island in the Gulf of Campeche, Mexico. They are uncommon
north of the Chesapeake Bay and are most abundant from Florida to
Texas. Spotted seatrout are primarily estuarine, preferring
relatively shallow water located over sandy bottom, submerged
aquatic vegetation, shell reefs or bottom structure. Spotted
seatrout are year-round residents of estuaries in the southern
portion of their range and are seasonal migrants to the
Chesapeake Bay. The spring migration into the Bay begins in May
and the fall migration to southern waters takes place in October
and November. As in the southern portion of their range, spotted
seatrout are most common in shallow creeks and rivers of the
Chesapeake Bay adjacent to beds of eelgrass and widgeon grass,
although they will move into deep channels and holes during
midsummer. Spotted seatrout mature between one and three years
of age and males tend to mature at a smaller size than females.
Size at maturity varies from estuary to estuary.
Biological Profile - Weakfish
Natural mortality rate;
Fecundity;
Age/size at maturity;
Longevity;
No data exist to directly estimate
natural mortality rates (M).
Estimates range from 384,000 (New
York Bight) to 2,300,000 eggs
(North Carolina) per fish at a size
of 20 inches TL.
In southern populations, males
reach maturity when approximately 1
year old or 5-6 inches (130-150 mm)
standard length (SL), while females
are slightly larger (5.7-7.5
inches, 145-190 mm SL) before
attaining sexual maturity. In
northern populations, size at
maturity is similar for both sexes
at about 254 mm (10 inches).
In general, northern weakfish live
longer, up to 11 years at about
620 mm (24.4 inches), as compared
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to 4-5 years (485 mm, 19.1 inches)
for the southern stock, and 5-6
years (540 mm, 21.3 inches) for the
central stock.
Spawning and Larval Development
Spawning season:
Spawning area:
Location:
Salinity:
Temperature:
Dissolved oxygen:
Younq-of-year
Location:
Salinity:
Temperature:
Subadults and Adults
Location:
Salinity:
Temperature:
March through October, with peaks
in May and June, j
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The principal spawning area is from
the Chesapeake Bay to Montauk, Long
Island, New York.
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Occurs within large estuaries in
deeper waters or in inlets,
sheltered coves, and river mouths,
but some spawning may also occur
outside estuaries near their
mouths. !
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Larvae have been collected in
salinities from 12-31 ppt.
From 53 to 75°F (11.7 to 23.9°C).
Minimum probably 5.0 ppm.
Move from high salinity to low
salinity areas; abundant in deeper
water from August-December.
Euryhaline, juveniles enter fresh
water and have j been taken in
salinities as high, as 31 ppt.
Unknown.
Estuarine and ocean waters.
From 6.6 to 32.3 ppt.
From 49 to 90°F (9.4 to 32.2°C).
Biological Profile - Spotted Seatrout i
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Natural mortality rate; Unknown for the Chesapeake Bay.
Fecundity: 14,000 to 16,000,000 eggs/female.
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Age/size at maturity;
Reported size and age at maturity
for Chesapeake Bay males is 250 mm
TL (9.8 inches) at year 2; reported
size and age at maturity for
Chesapeake Bay females is 290-350
mm TL (11.4-13.8 inches) at year 3.
Longevity: 15 years.
Spawning and Larval Development
Spawning season:
Spawning area:
Spawning location:
Salinity:
Spawning temperature:
Younq-of-Year
Location:
Salinity:
Temperature:
Subadults and Adults
Location:
Salinity:
Temperature:
Protracted spring and summer
spawning season; two peaks in the
spawning activity in the Chesapeake
Bay, one from mid-May to mid-June
and a second in July.
Estuarine and near-shore coastal
waters.
The preferred spawning habitat of
spotted seatrout is unknown but is
believed to be deeper channels
immediately adjacent to vegetated
shallows.
Reported range for spawning 17-35
ppt; optimal for larvae 19-38 ppt.
70 to 82°F (21.1 to 27.8°C).
Usually in submerged aquatic
vegetation near shore during summer
and fall.
Most abundant between 17-35 ppt.
Optimal range probably 61 to 81°F
(16.1 to 27.2°C).
Estuarine and coastal waters with
extensive vegetation in areas 10 to
20 feet deep.
Reported from 0-77 ppt;
abundant from 5-35 ppt.
and most
Reported from 41 to 95°F (5.0 to
35.0°C).
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FMP Status and Management Units
Spotted seatrout and weakfish management plans were prepared
under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC)
Interstate Fisheries Management Program and were completed in
October 1984 and October 1985, respectively. Management measures
called for in the spotted seatrout plan include a minimum size
limit of 12 inches total length with compcirable mesh size
regulations in directed fisheries, data collection for stock
assessment and monitoring of the status of the fisheries. High
research priorities include stock identification, mortality
estimates 'and yield modeling, habitat reguirements, effects of
environmental factors on stock size, development of a pre-recruit
index, mesh size selectivity and social and economic analyses.
Major provisions identified in the weakfish plan call for
coastal states from Rhode Island to Virginia to delay harvest of
weakfish until age 1, and that the use of Trawl Efficiency
Devices (TEDs) be promoted in the southern shrimp fisheries. The
major problem for weakfish is the lack of biological and
fisheries data necessary for effective management. The coastal
plan, therefore, promotes cooperative interstate research to
understand the coastal fisheries and biology of weakfish.
Both plans were reviewed by the ASMFC and; updated in April
1988. Goal statements and management objectives for each
continue to be valid, however, full implementation of either plan
is lacking. Recommendations to meet spotted seatrout management
objectives include continued efforts towards achieving full
implementation of the FMP, continued and increased collection of
commercial and recreational landings data (to include effort
data), development and implementation of methodology to obtain
pre-recruit indices to monitor stock status, coordinated research
and monitoring activities at the state and regional level and
periodic review and updating of the FMP to incprporate new data
and research findings. j
Recommendations for the weakfish fishery include continued
efforts toward the full implementation of the FMP, continued
promotion of TEDs and their usefulness in reducing finfish
bycatch, the development of an improved coastwide research
program on weakfish (especially stock ID work) and holding annual
workshops to coordinate nearshore state and federal finfish
surveys. Recommendations from a July 1990 ASMFC weakfish
workshop should be finalized this fall.
The management units are the weakfish (Cvnoscion regalis)
and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) throughout their range
on the Atlantic coast.
Fishery Parameters - Weakfish
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Status of exploitation: Since 1972, landings have been well
above the long: term average;
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Long term potential catch:
Importance
fishery:
of recreational
Importance of commercial
fishery:
Fishing mortality rates:
however, Chesapeake Bay catches
have comprised proportionately less
of the total Atlantic coast harvest
than mid- and southern Atlantic
catches.
Currently unknown.
Significant. In 1979, an estimated
2.2 million pounds of weakfish were
caught recreationally in Maryland,
as compared to 85,000 pounds caught
commercially. In Virginia, an
estimated 3.1 million pounds were
caught recreationally in 1986,
compared to 2.0 million pounds
caught commercially.
Historically, harvests in Virginia
have been significantly higher than
in Maryland. Weakfish has ranked
in the top five -species in pounds
landed and value 24 of 48 years in
Virginia (1940-1987). In 1982, the
Maryland proportion of total
reported Atlantic coast weakfish
catch was less than two percent,
Virginia's about 12 percent—as
compared to about 20-30 percent
combined for both states, from
1955-1980.
42 to 47 percent annually.
Fishery Parameters - Spotted Seatrout
Status of exploitation:
Limited commercial and recreational
landings data are available from
ASMFC States for 1977-1989.
Atlantic coast landings have
fluctuated, with North Carolina and
the east coast of Florida
generating the largest commercial
catches. Commercial landings are
considerably less in the other
states, however, this species is
important as a recreational catch.
These landings data are considered
as very gross indicators of stock
conditions since effort data is
lacking. Recreational fishing
effort for 1979 - 1986 is reported
8
-------
to have increased.
Long term potential catch: Currently unknown.
Importance of recreational
fishery: Significant in some years.
Importance of commercial
fishery: Insignificant. i,
Fishing mortality rates: Unknown. 1
Habitat Issues - Weakfish
Weakfish utilize both coastal and estuarine waters at
different life history stages. Protecting coastal and estuarine
habitats is important to the overall health of the stock. Good
water quality in estuarine areas is critical for successful
spawning and growth of early larval stages. Most estuarine areas
of the United States have been impacted by agricultural drainage,
flood control and development. The National ; Estuary Study in
1970 indicated that 73 percent of all estuaries had been
moderately or severely degraded by filling, dredging, and
pollution. \
Specific habitat issues have not been identified for
weakfish in the Chesapeake Bay. The multifaceted issue of habitat
protection and enhancement for living resources in the Chesapeake
Bay is currently being addressed by the 1987 Chesapeake Bay
Agreement. Within this agreement, strategies for wetlands
protection, nutrient and non-point pollution reduction and
reduction of toxic and conventional pollutants are being
implemented. The improvement and maintenance of. water quality are
the most critical elements in the overall, restoration and
protection of living resources in the Chesapeake Bay.
j
i
Habitat Issues - Spotted Seatrout I
j
i
Spotted seatrout are most abundant in estuarine habitats
from Florida to Texas. Factors important in determining habitat
suitability for spotted seatrout include: presence of large
areas of submerged aquatic vegetation; presence of large areas of
shallow, quiet brackish water (bays and lagoons); absence of
predators; absence of competitors; an abundance of grazing
crustaceans and fishes of suitable size; a stable temperature,
ranging from 15.6 to 26.7°C (60 to 80°F) ; and adequate areas
adjacent to grass flats having a depth of 3-6 ia (10-20 feet) that
can be used as refuge from winter cold. The Chesapeake Bay,
which marks the northern range of spotted seatrout abundance,
provides suitable habitat for a migratory population.
Spotted seatrout are very susceptible to the effects of
estuarine habitat degradation. The Chesapeake Bay has suffered a
-------
major decline in submerged aquatic vegetation, the prime habitat
for spotted seatrout juveniles and adults. Causes leading to the
decline of submerged vegetation may be related to nutrient
enrichment. The improvement and maintenance of water quality is
essential to the re.-establishment of submerged aquatic vegetation
in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Fisheries - Weakfish
Since weakfish are a migratory species and range up and down
the Atlantic coast, commercial harvest along the coast will
affect harvest within the Bay. The following account of the
Atlantic coast commercial fishery is taken from Mercer (1983).
Commercial landings of weakfish along the coast have fluctuated
widely since the late 1800's. Although records are incomplete
for the early years, they indicate large catches of weakfish
between 1897 and 1908. Total commercial landings during the last
40 years reveal two peaks, one during the 1940's and another
during the late 1970's. Weakfish landings reached a record high
of 18,800 mt in 1945 followed by a decline to 2,800 mt in 1952.
During the next 15 years, weakfish landings fluctuated between
2,000 and 4,000 mt and then reached a record low of 1,400 mt in
1967. Landings increased to over 16,000 mt in 1980 and have since
been on a downward trend. The Chesapeake Bay region dominated
total landings between 1880 and 1957, followed by the Middle
Atlantic region and the South Atlantic region (Figure 2, from
Mercer 1983).
Commercial catch records for weakfish from the Chesapeake
Bay are presented in Figure 3a. Except for the low landings
recorded during World War II, the total harvest of weakfish
reported from Chesapeake Bay in the 1930's and 1940's ranged from
6 to 11 million pounds. Following the war, there was a record
harvest of approximately 18 million pounds. The weakfish harvest
declined to an average of 1.6 million pounds over the next twenty
years, then increased slightly to an average of 3.1 million
pounds during 1970-1979. In 1980, the total weakfish harvest
peaked at 5.1 million pounds. Since then, harvest has averaged
around 1.7 million pounds. Virginia has harvested between 50 and
89 percent of the total weakfish harvest from the Chesapeake Bay
(Figure 3b) . Maryland's harvest from the Bay has not exceeded 4
million pounds and has been less than 500,000 pounds in the last
ten years (Figure 3c) .
Historically, weakfish in Maryland were primarily harvested
by pound nets. In recent years, otter trawls in the Atlantic
Ocean and gill nets have accounted for approximately 70 percent
of the catch (Figure 4a-d). In Virginia, the primary gear type
for harvesting weakfish in the Bay has been pound nets (Figure
5a-d) . Since 1970, CPUE in both Maryland and Virginia, for all
gear types has been rising (Stagg 1986) . This trend is also
evident for the whole Atlantic coast weakfish fishery (Mercer
1983). Since 1980, coastwide landings by number have increased
while landings by weight have shown a decreasing trend.
10
-------
NEW ENGLAND
4- I MIDDLE ATLANTIC
8-
6
4-
SOUTH ATLANTIC
0
•^p-T—IT—r^p»—f—»—r^^^^^^^^^T^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l
1940 1945 I960 1955 I960 1965 1970 1975 I960
YEARS I
Figure 2. U.S. commercial landings of weakfish,
Plno_??J2U regal Vs » by geographic region,
1 9-10-1982."
11
-------
Weakfish Commercial Landings
from the Chesapeake Bay
Million pounds
1930 1935 19-4-0 1945 1950 1965 I960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985
Year
Figure 3a
Waokfith Comnwfdai Laixfings
from Virginia
Million pound*
Figure a>
Weakflth Commerciai Landings
from Maryland
Million pound*
2 •
1MO IMS 1MO 1M( 1BTO 1>T< 1010
Year
Flguraao
-------
Maryland commercial weakfish landings by gear
2000
1600 -
1000 -
Thousand Pounds
Hut
1946 1860 1855 188O 1065 1870 1875 1880 1886
Year
lOOOr
Thousand Pounds
IMS I860 1865 19M 1865 1870 1875 1880 1885
Figure 4»
Ftgur* 4b
Thousand Pounds
i
1945 1860 1865 1860 1866 1070 1876 1880 1886
Year
Flgur* 4o
I40r
120V
Thousand Pounds
90 r
1845 I960 1865 1860 1866 1870 1875 1880 1886
Year
Figure 4d
-------
Virginia commercial weakfish landings by gear
Million pound!
1MO
Figure 5«
IMS
1070 1976
Year
198O
1985
1200
1000 h
Thootand Pound*
1980 1986
1970 197S
Year
19BO 1885
Flqur* 6b
Thousand Pounds
Thousand Pounds
1980
1886
1960 198S
197O 1975
Year
1880
1985
Figure So
Rgur* 5d
-------
Recreational fishery statistics for weakfish are incomplete.
Based on a limited number of salt-water angling surveys, weakfish
catches along the Atlantic coast were low in the 1960's and
increased in 1970 (Mercer 1983). Along the coast, the number of
anglers in the recreational fishery doubled between 1960 and 1970
with the recreational catch probably exceeding the commercial
landings in 1970, 1975 and 1979. The recreational catch of
weakfish in Maryland tidal waters (Chesapeake Bay and ocean side
bays) declined from 1,780,761 pounds (545,470 fish) in 1979 to
331,492 pounds (126,780 fish) in 1980 (Williams et al. 1982). The
average weight of weakfish also decreased. Catch rates from a
recreational fishing survey of Virginia's Eastern Shore from 1955
to 1962 indicated p.eak abundance during 1955 (Richards 1965) .
Catch rates declined to a low in 1958 and increeised through 1962.
Catch rates of weakfish in the Chesapeake Bay have shifted from a
single peak in the fall to bimodal peaks in the spring and fall.
Presently, Maryland and the Potomac River have a ten inch
size limit on weakfish and Virginia has a nine inch size limit.
There are no daily quotas or seasons for any Chesapeake Bay
areas. Trawling is prohibited within the Bay and in Virginia's
Territorial Sea. There are various limits on mesh sizes and
.gears. ;
The Fisheries - Spotted Seatrout
i
Spotted seatrout are not an important commercial fishery in
the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Landings have never
exceeded 30,000 pounds and have been less than 1000 pounds a year
since the 1940's (Figure 6a) . In Virginia, commercial landings
reached an historical high of 760,000 pounds in 1944 and have
since generally declined (Figure 6b) . In recent years, Virginia
landings, which were in the range of 2000 to 6000 pounds from
1977-1984, increased to an average of approximately 14,000 pounds
for 1985-88.
Recreational surveys suggest that the sport catch exceeds
the commercial harvest. In the Chesapeake Bay, the largest
spotted seatrout catches occur from May through November in the
lower Bay, Rappahannock and York Rivers. Virginia landings were
estimated at 86,000 pounds in 1986. i
!
[
Economic Perspective - Weakfish
Food landings of weakfish from along the Atlantic coast were
valued at $8.8 million in 1981. Price movements for weakfish
appear to react inversely to landings (Cato 1981). The real price
of weakfish, in present value terms - adjusted for inflation, has
gradually increased since 1967. Real price increases have most
likely resulted from increased demand (Cato 1981). There is very
little information on the economic value of tne recreational
weakfish fishery. i
15
-------
Spotted Seatrout
Commercial Landings
30
Thousands
26-
20-
16-
10-
6-
I ii ii I ii ii M 11 M 11111111111111 M
0-
1930 1036 1040 104-6 1060 1066 1060 1066 1070 1076 1080 1086
Year
Maryland
Flguro en
800
Thousands
o 1111111 M i h HI in u i n 11 h n i h i M
eoo-
400-
200-
1030 1036 1040 194-6 1060 1066 1960 1966 1970 1976 1980 1986
Year
Virginia
Figure Ob
16
-------
Dockside values of the commercial weakfish fishery in the
Chesapeake Bay are available, but do not provide the total value
of the commercial fishery. In 1982, the ex-vetssel value for a
reported 1,860,000 pounds of weakfish from the Chesapeake Bay was
$1,001,000. This breaks down to a cost of $0.54 per pound.
Virginia has historically been an important source of
weakfish for the U. S. market. In 1941, Virginia supplied 85
percent of the total U. S. weakfish landings. Virginia supplied
50 percent or greater of the total U. S. weakfish landings all
but one year between 1940 and 1951. Since then, however, the
percentage supplied by Virginia has decreased steadily. Only 9
percent of the U. S. weakfish market was supplied by Virginia in
1987. j
Economic Perspective - Spotted Seatrout i
Spotted seatrout contributed more to the total value
of U. S. sciaenid landings between 1960 and 1974 than any other
species (Cato 1981) . In 19,82 the total value of spotted seatrout
landings was $3 million. Values of Atlantic coast landings have
fluctuated, but increased from 1979 to 1982. In comparison, the
total value of Gulf of Mexico landings have generally increased
from 1950 to 1982. The real (deflated) price of spotted seatrout
declined from 1967 to 1977 along the Atlantic) coast. Gulf of
Mexico prices have increased since 1974. i
Virginia spotted seatrout commercial landings from 1985 to
1988 total 55,465 pounds for a total dockside value of $56,295.
This breaks down to $1.02 per pound. Recreational surveys
indicate that the sport fishery catch of spotted seatrout
probably exceeds the commercial harvest. There is very little
information on the economic value of the recreational spotted
seatrout fishery.
I
Resource Status - Weakfish
In 1980, reported commercial weakfish landings along the
Atlantic coast were the third highest on record. Landings have
since declined and available indices of recruitment suggest they
will continue to drop. Based on the yield-per-recruit and eggs-
per-recruit analyses, it appears that weakfishi from Maryland to
North Carolina have been experiencing growth overfishing and
recruitment overfishing (Boreman and Seagraves 1984). Populations
to the north of Maryland are near or at maximum fishing levels.
Very little is known about weakfish in the Maryland portion
of the Bay. Catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) for weakfish in pound
nets has shown a general improvement since 1970 (Bonzek and Jones
1984). However, a trawl survey conducted from 1980-1982 indicated
a decline in juvenile weakfish abundance (Dintaman 1981, 1982,
1983). Basic biological and fisheries information about size,
age, growth, and sex composition is incomplete.
17
-------
Resource status - Spotted Seatrout
Present condition of the Atlantic Coast population is
largely unknown, but it does not appear to be overfished. Catches
have fluctuated since 1950 with Florida and North Carolina
accounting for the majority of Atlantic Coast landings. Declines
have been attributed to winter cold kills, environmental
degradation and fishing pressure.
Laws and Regulations - Weakfish
Limited entry:
Minimum size limit:
Creel limit:
Harvest quotas:
By-catch restrictions:
Maryland's Delay of Application
Process, which went into effect
September 1, 1988, requires
previously unlicensed applicants to
wait two years after registering
with MDNR before a license to
harvest finfish with commercial
fishing gear will be issued.
Virginia - Proposed legislation
authorizing the VMRC to limit or
delay entry to fisheries (House
Bill 286) was introduced to the
1990 Virginia General Assembly.
The Bill was tabled and assigned to
a legislative subcommittee for
further study.
Potomac River - current moratorium
on any new commercial hook and line
or gill net licenses, only Maryland
and Virginia residents allowed to
fish commercially.
Maryland and Potomac River - 10
inches TL; Virginia - 9 inches TL.
Not in effect for Maryland,
Virginia or Potomac River.
Not in effect.
Not in effect for Maryland.
Virginia, 10 percent;
100 Ibs, by weight;
100 Ibs, by number).
(aggregates >
aggregates <
Potomac River - no allowance for
any undersize weakfish in either
recreational or commercial
fisheries.
18
-------
Season: No closed season for Maryland,
Virginia or Potomac River.
Gear - Area restrictions: Maryland - purse seines, otter
trawls, beam trawls, trammel nets,
troll nets, drag nets and monofila-
ment gill nets prohibited (otter
and beam trawls are legal on the
Atlantic Coast at distances of one
mile or more offshore). Prohibition
on gill netting in most areas of
the Chesapeake Bay • and its
tributaries, except; (1) attended
drift gill nets 2.5 to 3.5 inches
stretch mesh may be fished outside
the striped bass spawning reaches
and; (2) anchor, stake and drift
gill net 4.0 to 6.0 inches stretch
mesh can be ^fished in the
Chesapeake Bay, excluding the
tributaries south of Kent Point
from June 1 to September 30,
inclusive. Minimum stretch mesh
size restrictions for pound net -
1.5 inches, fyke and hoop net - 1.5
inches, haul seine - 2.5 inches.
Virginia - Trawling prohibited. It
is unlawful to set, place or fish a
fixed fishing device of any type
within three hundred yards in
either direction from the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. From
April 1 through 31 May the spawning
areas of the James, Pamunkey,
Mattaponi, and Rappahannock Rivers
are closed to stake and anchor gill
nets. Striped bass taken in
spawning areas by any gear must be
released immediately.
Minimum stretch mesh size
restrictions: pound net - 2
inches; gill net - 2 7/8 inches
(increased to 3 Inches in 1992);
haul seine - 3 inches (nets over
200 yards long). Additionally, no
haul seine can be j longer than 1000
yards in length or deeper than 40
meshes. Any gill net, whether
floating or submerged, that is not
assigned a fixed location shall be
set in a straight line, have no
greater depth than 330 inches,
shall not exceed 1200 feet in
19
-------
length and shall be fished no
closer than 200 feet to any other
such gill net. Gill nets are
prohibited in the Lower Hampton
Roads area from the Friday
preceding Memorial Day to Labor
Day, both days inclusive, from 7:00
A.M. to 5:00 P.M.; gill nets are
prohibited in four Eastern Shore
Bayside creek mouths (the Gulf,
Hungars Creek, Nassawadox Creek and
Occohannock Creek) from June 1 to
October 1. Also, Sections 28.1-52
and 28.1-53 of the Code of Virginia
outline placement, total length and
distance requirements for fishing
structures.
Potomac River - Current moratorium
on any new gill net or hook and
line licenses. The use of a spear,
gig, purse net, beam trawl, otter
trawl or trammel net are
prohibited. Mesh size restrictions
on pound net - 1.5 inches, haul
seine - 1.5 inches, fyke net - 1.5
inches, fish pot - 2.0 inches, gill
net - 3.75 inches with a maximum of
7.0 inches. Length limitations on
pound net (1200 feet), stake gill
net (600 feet), anchor gill net
(600 feet x 12 feet), fyke net (400
feet), haul seine (1200 feet or
2400 feet) , fish pot (10 feet).
Seasonal restrictions: Pound net -
February 15 through December 15;
Anchor or stake gill net - June 1
through November 30; Drift gill net
- closed; Haul seine - January 1
through December 31, except
Saturdays and Sundays from June 1
through August 31; and not between
sunset on any Friday and sunset on
the ensuing Sunday at all other
times.
Laws and Regulations - Spotted Seatrout
Limited entry: Maryland, Virginia and Potomac
River - Same as weakfish.
Minimum size limit: Maryland, Virginia and Potomac
River - 12 inches TL.
20
-------
Creel limit:
Harvest quotas:
By-catch restrictions:
Season:
Gear- Area restrictions:
Not in effecti for Maryland,
Virginia or Potomac River.
i
Not in effect1 for Maryland,
Virginia or Potomac River. ,,.
Maryland and Virginia - none in
effect.
Potomac River - same as weakfish.
!
No closed season.:
Maryland, Virginia and Potomac
River- Same as weakfish.
Data and Analytical Needs - Weakfish
1. Determination of the Atlantic coast stock structure and the
extent of stock mixing. j
|
2. Collect accurate catch and effort statistics from both
commercial and recreational fisheries.
3. Collect basic biological data including size and age
composition, growth rates, mortality rates, and estimates of
abundance. !
i
4. Develop a recruitment index and examine the relationships
between parental .stock size and environmental factors on
yearclass strength. !
5. Coordinate coastwide data on juvenile abundance.
6. Investigate the reproductive biology of weakfish which
includes size at sexual maturity, fecundity and spawning
periodicity.
7. Assess the socioeconomics of the weakfish fishery.
i
Data and Analytical Needs - Spotted Seatrout ,
. i . .
1. Determination of the stock structure of the Atlantic Coast
spotted seatrout population. |
I
i
2. Develop annual age and sex specific estimates of relative
abundance. i
i
3. Improve estimates of the commercial, recreational and charter
boat harvest.
4. Develop age specific estimates of growth, natural mortality
and fishing mortality in the Chesapeake Bay. !
21
-------
5. Collect information relating to the stock-recruitment
relationship of spotted seatrout.
6. Determination of contaminants which affect reproductive
success and the extent to which they do so.
7. Develop a reliable index of recruitment.
References.
ASMFC. 1984. Fishery management plan for spotted seatrout.
Fisheries Management Report No. 4 of the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission.
ASMFC. 1985. Fishery management plan for weakfish. Fisheries
Management Report No. 7 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission.
ASMFC. 1988. Fishery management plan reviews for American
lobster, Atlantic menhaden, northern shrimp, red drum, shad and
river herrings, spotted seatrout, summer flounder and weakfish.
Special Report No. 11 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission.
Bigelow, H. B. and W. C. Schroeder. 1953. Fishes of the Gulf of
Maine. U. S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 53:417-423.
Boreman, J. and R. J. Seagraves. 1984. Status of weakfish along
the Atlantic coast, 1984. Natl. Mar. Fish. Ser. , NEFC, Woods Hole
Lab. Ref. Doc. No. 84-19, 27 p. + fig.
Cato, J. C. 1981. Economic values and uses of the sciaenid
fisheries, pp. 59-68 In: F. E. Carlton (chairman) and H. Clepper
(ed.), Marine Recreational Fisheries 6. Sport Fishing Institute,
Wash., D.C.
Chao, L. N. and J. A. Musick. 1977. Life history, feeding habits,
and functional morphology of juvenile sciaenid fishes in the York
River estuary, Virginia. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Fish. Bull.
75(4): 657-702.
Cowan, J. H., Jr. and R. S. Birdsong. 1985. Seasonal occurrence
of larval and juvenile fishes in a Virginia Atlantic coast
estuary with emphasis on drums (Family Sciaenidae). Estuaries
8(1): 48-59.
Crawford, M. K., C. B. Grimes, and N. E. Buroker. 1988. Stock
identification of weakfish, (Cynoscion regalis) in the Middle
Atlantic region. Fish. Bull. 87:205-211.
Dintaman, R. C. 1983. Blue crab management project. Annual
Report. January 1983. MD Dept. Nat. Res., Tidewater Admin.,, 49 p.
Dintaman, R. C. 1982. Blue crab management project. Annual
22
-------
Report. January 1982, MD Dept. Nat. Res., Tidewater Admin., 57 p.
Dintaman, R. C. 1981. Blue crab management project. Annual
Report. January 1981. MD Dept. Nat. Res., Tidewater Admin.
i
Gunter, G. and G. E. Hall. 1963. Additions to the list of
euryhaline fishes of North America. Copeia 1963(3):596-597.
l
Harmic, J. L. 1958. Some aspects of the development and ecology
of the pelagic phase of the gray squeteague, Cynoscion regalis
(Bloch and Schneider), in the Delaware estuary. Ph.D. Diss.,
Univ. Delaware, Newark, 84 p. \
i
Hildebrand, S. F. and W. C. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of Chesapeake
Bay. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43(1):300-305. j
Hornick, H. T. , R. C. Dintaman and V. Fay. 1988. Stock
assessment of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and weakfish
(Cynoscion regalis) in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. Final report
FY 1986. NOAA and Maryland DNR. 72 p. j
Jones, P. W. , H. J. Speir, N. H. Butowski, R. L. O'Reilly, L. S.
Gillingham and E. B. Smoller. 1988. Chesapeake Bay fisheries:
status, trends, priorities and data needs. Prepared by the MD
Dept. of Natural Resources and the Va. Marine Resources Comm.
260 p.
Kostecki, P. T. 1984. Habitat suitability index models:
spotted seatrout. U. S. Fish Wildl. Serv. FWS/OBS-82/10.75. 22 p.
Massmann, W. H. 1963. Age and size composition of weakfish,
Cvnoscion regalis from pound nets in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia,
1954-1958. Chesapeake Sci. 4:43-51. 1
I'
Massmann, W. H., J. P. Whitcomb, and A. L. Pacheco. 1958.
Distribution and abundance of gray weakfish in the York River
system, Virginia. Trans. 23rd N. Am. Wildl. Natl. Conf. 23:361-
369. ']
!
McDowell, J. , A. Beardsley and J. Graves. 1990. Mitochondrial
DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisim analysis of
weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) stock structure along mid-Atlantic
coast. Final report to the ASMFC, 18 p. j
Mercer, L. P. 1983. A biological and fisheries profile of
weakfish, Cynoscion regalis. N.C. Dep. Nat. Rescmr. Commun. Dev.,
Div. Mar. Fish. Spec. Sci. Rep. No. 39, 107 p. !
Mercer, L. P. 1984. A biological and fisheries profile of
spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus. N.C. Dep. Nat. Resour.
Commun. Dev., Div. Mar. Fish. Spec. Sci. Rep. No. 40, 87 p.
j
Merriner, J. V. 1973. Assessment of the weakfish resource, a
suggested management plan, and aspects of life'history in North
Carolina. Ph.D. Diss. North Carolina State Univ.i, Raleigh, 201 p.
i
23 !
-------
Nesbit, R. A. 1954. Weakfish migration in relation to its
conservation. U.S. Pish and Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep., Fish.
No. 115. 81 p.
Olney, J. E. 1983. Eggs and early larvae of the bay anchovy,
Anchoa mitchilli. and the weakfish, Cynoscion regalisf in lower
Chesapeake Bay with notes on associated ichthyoplankton.
Estuaries 6(1): 20-35.
Perlmutter, A., W. Miller, and J. Poole. 1956. The weakfish
(Cynoscion regal is) in New York waters. N.Y. Fish and Game J.,
3(1): 1-43.
Raney, E. C. and W. H. Massmann. 1953. The fishes of the
Tidewater sections of the Pamunkey River. J. Wash. Acad. Sci.
43:424-432.
Richards, C. E. 1965. Availability patterns of marine fishes
caught by charter boats operating off Virginia's Eastern Shore,
1955-1962. Chesapeake Sci. 6(2):96-108.
Scoles, D. 1990. Stock identification of weakfish, Cynoscion
regalis, by discriminant function anlaysis of morphological
characters, M.A. Thesis, School of Marine Science, College of
William and Mary, 75 p.
Shepherd, G. R. and C. B. Grimes. 1983. Geographic and historic
variations in growth of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, in the
middle Atlantic bight. Fish. Bull. 81(4):803-813.
Stagg, C. 1985. An evaluation of the information available for
managing Chesapeake Bay fisheries: preliminary stock assessments.
Volume 1, UMCEES(CBL) 85-29, 84 p.
Thomas, D. L. 1971. The early life history and ecology of six
species of drum (Sciaenidae) in the lower Delaware River, a
brackish tidal estuary. Ichthyol. Assoc., Del. Prog. Rep. 3 (Part
III), 247 p.
Wilk, S. J. 1976. The weakfish - a wide ranging species. Atl.
States Mar. Fish. Comm., Mar. Resour. Atl. Coast, Fish. Leaf. No.
18, 4 p.
Wilk, S. J. 1979. Biological and fisheries data on weakfish,
Cvnoscion regalis (Bloch and Schneider). NOAA, NMFS, NEFC, Sandy
Hook Lab. Tech. Ser. Rpt. No. 21, 49 p.
Williams, J. B., H. J. Speir, S. Early, and T. P. Smith. 1982.
1979 Maryland saltwater sportfishing survey. Univ. MD, Dep.
Agric. Resour. Econ., Rep. No. TA-CRD-82-1, 100 p.
24
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Section 2. WEAKFISH AND SPOTTED SEATROUT MANAGEMENT
i
The source documents for this plan, Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission (1984, 1985, 1988), Mercer (1983, 1984),
Jones et al. (1988) and Wilk (1979) contain current knowledge and
discuss the status and research needs for weakfish and spotted
seatrout stocks in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters.
Problems and management strategies have been defined and grouped
into specific categories and serve as the basis for identifying
the goal and objectives. The management strategies and actions
will be implemented by the jurisdictions to protect and enhance
the stocks of weakfish and spotted seatrout utilizing the
Chesapeake Bay. Existing regulations regarding the harvest of
these species will continue to be enforced except where otherwise
indicated by the plan.
I
i
A. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES j
I
The goal of this plan is to:
Enhance and perpetuate weakfish and spotted seatrout stocks
in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and throughout
their Atlantic coast range, so as to generate optimum long-
term ecological, social and economic benefits from their
commercial and recreational harvest and, utilization over
time. ;
In order to meet this goal, the following objectives must be met:
1) Follow guidelines established by the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission for coastwide management of weakfish
and spotted seatrout stocks and make Bay regulatory actions
compatible where possible.
2) Promote protection of the resource by maintaining a clear
distinction between conservation goals; and allocation
issues. i
3) Maintain weakfish and spotted seatrout spawning stocks at a
size which minimizes the possibility of recruitment failure
and determine the effects of environmental factors on year-
class strength. j
4) Promote the cooperative interstate collection of economic,
social and biological data required to effectively monitor
and assess management efforts relative to the overall goal.
5) Improve collection of catch and standardized effort
statistics in the weakfish and spotted seatrout fisheries.
6) Promote fair allocation of allowable harvest among various
components of the fishery. ,
25
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7) Continue to provide guidance for the development of water
quality goals and habitat protection necessary to protect
weakfish and spotted seatrout populations within the Bay and
state coastal waters.
B. PROBLEM AREAS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Problem 1 - Overfishing: Total coastwide landings of weakfish by
weight have shown a decreasing trend since 1980, while the number
of fish caught has increased. These trends are especially
pronounced for the recreational fishery. The NMFS reports a
recent decline in juvenile abundance and notes that the last
strong year class was in 1978. Recent assessments of weakfish
stocks indicate that weakfish from Maryland to North Carolina are
experiencing growth and recruitment overfishing, while
populations to the north of Maryland are near or at maximum
fishing levels. Total coastwide landings of spotted seatrout
have varied considerably since 1977. Although landings are
generally down from those prior to the mid-1970's, spotted
seatrout do not appear to be overfished. Data to support a stock
assessment are generally lacking and need to be collected.
Strategy 1 - Overfishing: Additional data needs to be collected,
but in the interim, management agencies will take a conservative
approach. Control of fishing effort on weakfish, utilizing
combinations of options such as higher minimum size limits,
reductions in bycatch, and hook-and-line creel limits, will help
increase yield per recruit and the coastal spawning population.
Current regulations for spotted seatrout will be maintained.
Weakfish overfishing problems are regional; in fact, Bay fishing
is a relatively small component of Mid-Atlantic commercial
fisheries. For this reason, the Bay jurisdictions will pursue
resolution of overfishing problems through regional management
measures derived in the ASMFC and MAFMC processes.
PROBLEM 1.1
Recent stock assessments on weakfish indicate that current
fishing mortality (F) is greater than Fmax from Maryland
south, signifying an overfishing problem (Fmajf is the point
where yield will not increase with additional fishing
effort, but may decrease as fish are caught at small and
immature sizes). Current Chesapeake Bay size limits also
allow for marketing of some sexually immature fish from Mid-
Atlantic and northern areas.
STRATEGY 1.1
Information obtained from stock assessment work and
catch/effort analyses are critical for the development
of management measures to address suspected overfishing
and to enhance Atlantic coast stocks. Bay
jurisdictions will evaluate a number of alternatives to
control directed fishing mortality and improve
protection of weakfish beyond age I.
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ACTION 1.1.1
Maryland, Virginia and the PRFC will continue the
stock assessment work and analyses of catch/effort
data described in Action 2.1 to improve management
measures for controlling overharvest.
IMPLEMENTATION 1.1.1 j
Continue. i
ACTION 1.1.2
1) Maryland and the PRFC will propose an increase
in the minimum size limit for | weakf ish from 10
inches to 12 inches.
2) Virginia will continue to enforce its minimum
size limit of 9 inches for weakfish.
3) Bay jurisdictions will pursue discussions on a
consistent Baywide minimum size for weakfish.
i
IMPLEMENTATION 1.1.2 }
1) 1991; 2) Continue; 3) Continue.
i
ACTION 1.1.3 i
Maryland, the PRFC and Virginia! will continue to
enforce their 12 inch minimum: size limit for
spotted seatrout. i
i
IMPLEMENTATION 1.1.3 i
Continue. |
j
ACTION 1.1.4 j
Maryland will continue its Delay of Application
program for commercial fishing licenses to control
fishing effort. Virginia will continue to pursue
a limited and delayed entry program.
i
IMPLEMENTATION 1.1.4
Continue. !
ACTION 1.1.5
Maryland, the PRFC and Virginia will evaluate
recreational and commercial creel limits for
weakfish and spotted seatrout hook-and-line
fisheries, and implement them as needed.
IMPLEMENTATION 1.1.5
1991-1992.
PROBLEM 1.2
The incidental bycatch of small weakfish in non-directed
fisheries may impact recruitment to the weakfish spawning
stock. Nondirected fisheries include the iChesapeake Bay's
pound net fishery, Maryland's coastal gill net and trawl
fisheries and North Carolina's trawl, pound net, long haul
seine and beach seine fisheries for finfish and shrimp.
1
27
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North Carolina's juvenile bycatch alone likely exceeds the
Bay's entire commercial catch.
STRATEGY 1.2
Virginia and Maryland will investigate the incidental
bycatch of small weakfish in non-directed fisheries and
participate in coastal deliberations to protect small
weakfish in other coastal states.
ACTION 1.2
1) Maryland will collect information from its
pound net, ocean gill net and ocean trawl
fisheries to develop management strategies for
reducing the non-directed bycatch of small
weakfish and other species. Options for
consideration include minimum mesh sizes, season
and area restrictions, culling practices and
fishing efficiency devices.
2) Virginia will continue to monitor the species
composition and biological characteristics of bait
harvested in its pound net fishery. The VMRC will
take action, as needed, to reduce the incidental
bycatch of small weakfish in the bait fishery.
3) Maryland, the PRFC and Virginia will work
through the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management
Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission to encourage protection of immature
weakfish caught in North Carolina fisheries.
IMPLEMENTATION 1.2
1) Begin in 1991; 2) Continue; 3) 1991.
Problem 2 - Stock Assessment and Research Needs: Currently,
fisheries managers lack some of the biological and fisheries data
necessary for effective management of the weakfish resource.
Biological, social and economic data are lacking as well for
spotted seatrout.
Strategy 2 - Stock Assessment and Research Needs: Atlantic coast
databases are limited concerning harvest, fishing effort and
biological characteristics of the harvest and fishery independent
measures of weakfish and spotted seatrout stocks. Specific
research to address these deficiencies will be identified.
PROBLEM 2.1
A) Atlantic coast weakfish and spotted seatrout stock
structures and the extent of weakfish stock mixing are
poorly understood.
B) Data for weakfish and spotted seatrout size and age
composition, maturity schedules, growth rates, mortality
28
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rates and estimates of abundance are inconsistent.
C) Catch and effort statistics for weakfish and spotted
seatrout commercial and recreational fisheries need to be
improved for fisheries stock assessment, j
i
D) Information relating to the stock-recruitment
relationship for weakfish and spotted seatrout is lacking.
STRATEGY 2.1 !
Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries
Commission will continue existing programs which
collect weakfish and spotted seatrout data and promote
cooperative interstate research efforts to improve
weakfish and spotted seatrout databases.
'
I
ACTION 2.1
A) The jurisdictions will continue to support
stock identification research, particularly
mitochondrial DMA analysis being conducted at
Virginia's Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and
analysis of weakfish and spotteid seatrout scales
and otoliths. Coordinated studies on the relative
contribution of various estuaries, including the
Chesapeake Bay, to the coastal weakfish stock will
be initiated.
B) VMRC's Stock Assessment Program will continue
to collect biological data (age, size, sex) from
commercial catches of weakfish and spotted
seatrout. A cooperative Virginia Institute of
Marine Science - Old Dominion University Wallop-
Breaux project on weakfish population dynamics,
mortality estimates and yield models is proposed.
Other finfish species to be examined include the
spotted seatrout. j
!
C) Maryland, Virginia and the PRFC will continue
to collect fisheries landings data on weakfish and
spotted seatrout as part of ongoing commercial
fisheries statistics programs. Maryland will
continue its commercial pound net sampling project
to collect data on length, weight and sex for
weakfish and other species, j Virginia will
continue to pursue its limited and delayed entry
program and a mandatory reporting system for its
licensed commercial seafood buyers. Maryland and
Virginia will continue to supplement the Marine
Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey to obtain
more detailed catch statistics at the state level.
Maryland will implement a reporting system for
charter boats that require daily logs.
D) Maryland and Virginia will continue the Baywide
trawl survey of estuarine finfish species and
29
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crabs to measure size, age, sex, distribution,
abundance and CPUE. Maryland will continue
studies utilizing bottom trawls and beach seines
and will conduct a pilot stock assessment study on
weakfish and other estuarine species.
IMPLEMENTATION 2.1
Variable, depending on project.
Problem 3 - Habitat Loss and Degradation: Estuarine areas are
utilized by weakfish and spotted seatrout stocks for spawning,
nursery and feeding grounds. Increasing urbanization and
industrial development of the Atlantic coastal plain has resulted
in a decrease in the environmental quality of many estuarine
communities. Estuarine habitat loss and degradation in
Chesapeake Bay may contribute to declines in weakfish and spotted
seatrout stocks.
Strategy 3 - Habitat Issues: The jurisdictions will continue
their efforts to improve water quality and define habitat
requirements for the living resources in the Chesapeake Bay.
PROBLEM 3.1
Water quality impacts the distribution and abundance of
finfish species in the Chesapeake Bay.
STRATEGY 3.1
The District of Columbia, Environmental Protection
Agency, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the Potomac River
Fisheries Commission, and Virginia will continue to
promote the commitments of the 1987 Chesapeake Bay
Agreement. The achievement of the Bay commitments will
lead to improved water quality and enhanced biological
production.
ACTION 3.1
The District of Columbia, Environmental Protection
Agency, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the Potomac River
Fisheries Commission, and Virginia will continue
to set specific objectives for water quality
goals and review management programs established
under the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
The Agreement and documents developed pursuant to
the Agreement call for:
1) Developing habitat requirements and water
quality goals for various finfish species.
2) Developing and adopting basinwide nutrient
reduction strategies.
3) Developing and adopting basinwide plans for
the reduction and control of toxic substances.
4) Developing and adopting basinwide management
measures for conventional pollutants entering
the Bay from point and nonpoint sources.
30
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5) Quantifying the impacts arid identifying the
sources of atmospheric inputs on the Bay
system. [
6) Developing management strategies to protect
and restore wetlands and submerged aquatic
vegetation. j
7) Managing population growth to minimize adverse
impacts to the Bay environment.
]
IMPLEMENTATION 3.1
Continuing.
i
!
Problem 4 - Recreational-Commercial Conflicts: The number of
recreational anglers along the Atlantic coast doubled from 1960
to 1970 and continues to increase at a rapid rate. Effort is
reported to be increasing in the weakfish and spotted seatrout
recreational fisheries. The number of recreational boaters has
also been increasing rapidly in the Chesapeake Bay, resulting in
many areas being congested at certain times ,of the year. As
commercial watermen are increasingly constrained by limited
fishery resources, many are increasing their effort. There is
also competition between full-time and part-time fishermen.
Competing recreational and commercial interests? have led to more
frequent and intensive conflicts. '
i
Strategy 4 - Recreational-Commercial Conflicts: Maryland and
Virginia will examine recreational-commercial i conflicts arising
in Chesapeake Bay finfish fisheries and adopt mianagement measures
as necessary to resolve the issues. i
PROBLEM 4.1 j
The concentration of gill nets in certain Chesapeake Bay
waters has led to conflicts over placement of nets, marking,
number and length, mesh sizes allowed and other issues. In
Virginia, recreational gill netters are viewed as a problem
by commercial gill netters and recreational hook and liners.
Commercial gill netters also have conflicts among themselves
and with recreational hook and liners and boaters.
STRATEGY 4.1 |
Conflicts arising from the use of gill nets in
Chesapeake Bay waters will be closely monitored by
jurisdictional managers. Appropriate management
measures will be developed as necessary.
ACTION 4.1
Virginia, the PRFC and Maryland will continue to
address fishing conflicts and issues with existing
advisory groups. These include VMRC's Finfish
Subcommittee, comprised of commercial and
recreational fishing representatives; MDNR's Tidal
Fisheries Advisory Commission and Sports Fishing
Advisory Commission; and PRFC's members from
Virginia and Maryland. !
31
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IMPLEMENTATION 4.1
Continue.
ACTION 4.2
1) In April 1990, the VMRC adopted a uniform
marking system and a minimum mesh size of 2 7/8
inches for all gill nets fished in Virginia's
tidal waters. The minimum mesh size will increase
to 3 inches in January 1992. Gill nets will be
prohibited from the Hampton Roads area (7:00 A.M.
- 5:00 P.M.) and four Eastern Shore Bayside creek
mouths during summer months to avoid conflict with
recreational user groups.
2) In September 1990, Maryland adopted a marking
system, based on Virginia's scheme, for drift gill
nets used in the striped bass fishery. This
marking system will be proposed for gill nets used
in other fisheries as well.
IMPLEMENTATION 4.2
Ongoing.
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APPENDIX
33
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CHESAPEAKE BAY HEAKFISH AND SPOTTED SEATROUT
MANAGEMENT PLAN IHPLEHEHTAT I OH
PROBLEM
AREA
1 . Overf ishing
ACTION
1.1.1 VA, HD and the PRFC
Hill continue the work
described in Action 2.1
1.1.2 A) HD and the PRFC
will propose a 12 i nch
minimum size limit for
w e a k f i s h
B) VA will maintain its
9 inch minimum size limit
for weakfish
C ) B a y jurisdictions will
discuss a Baywide minimum
size for weakfish
1.1.3 Bay jurisdictions
will maintain their 12 inch
minimum size limit for
spotted seatrout
1.1.4 HD will continue its
Delay of Application
Process; VA will pursue its
delayed entry program.
1.1.5 MD, VA and the PRFC
will evaluate recreational
and commercial creel limits
for weakfish hook-and-line
fisheries, and implement
as needed .
DATE
Continue
1991
Continue
Continue
Variable
by item
1991-92
RESPONSIBLE
AGENCY & METHOD
VHRC - A
MDNR - A
PRFC - A
MDNR - R,L
PRFC - R
VMRC - A
MDNR - A
VMRC - A
PRFC - A
HDNR - A
VMRC - A
PRFC - A
MDNR - A
VMRC - L
.
MDNR - A,R,L
VHRC - A,R
PRFC - A,R
ADD.
STAFF
or SS
COMMENTS/NOTES
Up-to-date analyses are needed
to develop effective management
measures .
Adoption of this plan will give
MDNR regulatory authority for these
fisheries.
Discussions should extend coastwide.
VA may have proposals in 1991.
Should include examination of
of MRFSS data.
-------
PROBLEM
AREA
2 . Stock
Assessment
& Research
Needs
ACTION
1.2 A) MD will monitor
by-catch of small weakfish
in non-directed fisheries;
B) VA will monitor by-catch
of small weakfish in non-
directed fisheries;
C) HD, VA and PRFC will work
with MAFMC and ASMFC to
encourage protection of
small weakfish in North
Carolina fisheries.
2.1 A) Conduct stock
identification work
B) Continue collection of
biological data from
commercial weakfish and
spotted seatrout catches;
C) Continue on-going
_ ; _ 1 r • 1 • ^
u u HI in e r c i 9 i T i s n e r i e s
statistics programs;
VA will pursue its
mandatory reporting system;
VA and MD will continue to
supplement the Marine
Recreational Fisheries
Statistics Survey
D) Continue the Baywide
Trawl Survey to measure
size, age, sex, distribution
abundance and CPUE.
DATE
1991
Continue
1991
Cont i nue
Cont i nue
Variable
- - ^ —
D y item
Continue
RESPONSIBLE
AGENCY & METHOD
MDNR - A
VMRC - A
MDNR - A
VMRC - A
PRFC - A
VMRC - A
MDNR - A
VMRC - A
VMRC - A
" " M n u P "- ~ ft" ~
rl U N l\ n
PRFC - A
VMRC - A
MDNR - A
ADD .
STAFF
or $$
COMMENTS/NOTES
NC has no minimum size limits and
has a large discard from its shrimp
fishery.
Additional information on stock
structure and mixing is needed.
VIMS-ODU Wai lop-Breaux
project on weakfish pop
dynamics, mortality
estimates, yield models
— — _ _ —
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PROBLEM
AREA
3. Habitat
Loss and
Degradation
4 . Recreational
- Commerci a I
Conf I i cts
ACTION
3.1 Promote the objectives
of the Chesapeake Bay
Agreement to improve water
qua I i ty
4.1 VA, PRFC and MD wi 11
continue addressing
conflicts under advisement
by VA's FMAC and HD's TFAC
and SFAC
4.2 A) VA will continue
requirements for marking
gill nets and maintain
area and mesh size
size restrictions;
B) MD will continue
requirements for marking
gill nets
DATE
Van" able
Cont i nue
Continue
Cont i nue
RESPONSIBLE
AGENCY & METHOD
VHRC - A
HDNR - A
PRFC - A
OCFM - A
PFC - A
VHRC - A
MDNR - A
PRFC - A
VMRC - A
MDNR - A
ADD.
STAFF
or $$
COMMENTS/NOTES
Additional coordination among
agencies and jurisdictions needed.
Legend: VHRC = Virginia Marine Resources Commission
MDNR = Maryland Department of Natural Resources
PRFC = Potomac River Fisheries Commission
DCFM = District of Columbia, Fisheries Management
FMAC = Fisheries Management Advisory Committee
TFAC = Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission
PFC = Pennsylvania Fish Commission
SFAC = Sports Fisheries Advisory Commission
A = Administrative action
R = Regulation
L = Legislation
K = $1,000
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