Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association

Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association

  • Spiny Dogfish Mortality Study

Spiny Dogfish Mortality Study

If there is one fish that aggravates commercial and recreational fishermen, it’s the spiny dogfish. During the 1990’s, spiny dogfish were a targeted fishery, but concern over stock structure, specifically a lack of large females, led to reductions in catch limits which effectively eliminated this fishery. Currently they can only be sold as by-catch with a maximum possession limit of 600 lbs/ day, and stock size is currently estimated at over 300,000 metric tons. Increasing population size has caused an increase in by-catch and discards throughout all fishing fleets. Currently National Marine Fisheries Service estimates mortality of discards to be 75% for gillnets, 50% for draggers and 25% for longline. Studies estimating mortality for gillnets and draggers have been completed by Roger Rulifson (East Carolina University) and Marriane Farrington and John Mandelman- New England Aquarium, but information for hook and line is lacking.

CCCHFA will collaborate with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to calculate spiny dogfish discard mortality for hook and line vessels in the Gulf of Maine and Southern New England waters using seafloor caging methods. Duplicating regular fishing practices, fishermen from CCCHFA and Gulf of Maine will target spiny dogfish using rod and reel and longline. Caught dogfish will be placed in a large cage and lowered down to the depth they were caught for three days. Prior to being placed in the cage, dogfish will be measured, weighed and tagged using non-invasive methods. On the third day, cages will be raised and dogfish will be evaluated. Dogfish monitoring will continue, with living fish transferred to a pen 25 feet in diameter for up to 27 days. Fish will be fed every other day and dead fish will be removed.

This study is funded with a grant from the Northeast Consortium .

Pictures of rod and reel and benthic longline gear

Last updated: May 16, 2006

Today's Catch


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Get Ready for the Event of the Season! Hookers Ball VIII August 16th.
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Get your copy today!
The perfect beach read: three centuries of fishing in Chatham

 

Beyond the Bar: The Perilous Journey
- by Robert D. B. Carlisle

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Help Hook the Cure Striped Bass Derby! August 23, 2008, Benefits Parkinson disease research.
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HAVE YOU CAUGHT A TAGGED HADDOCK OR COD?

Report the tagged fish and receive a prize!

If you catch a haddock or cod with a tag:

  • Record
Tag #
Fish length
Spawning condition
Date and time
Location
Water depth and temperature
Gear used
Fate of fish (released or landed)

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