Table of Contents

• Dataset Description
• Data Files
• Parameters
• Deployments
• Project Information
• Program Information
• Funding

Groundfish tag data from Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area and surrounding areas

Note: This project was awarded funding in both 2000 and 2002. This summary encompasses both projects.

Two cod tagging projects have been funded, one that examines the effectiveness of the western Gulf of Maine rolling closures as a management tool (FY2000) and another that focuses on cod movements in and around the Western Gulf of Maine Area Closure (WGoMAC) (FY2002). Mark and recapture techniques were used for both.

During the first project, 91 tagging trips were conducted, making 555 tows in the 4 rolling closure areas. A total of 17,860 cod were tagged, as well as 1,138 haddock, 840 American plaice, 79 pollock, 41 wolf fish, 28 yellowtail flounder, 12 winter flounder, and 7 gray sole. A total of 1,086 cod (6.1%) were recaptured with enough information (exact location and date of recapture) to be usable in the study. All data have been entered, and the analyses have been completed. Results from the project formed the basis of a thesis prepared by Mike Morin, and a manuscript for publication is currently in review. Overall, movement of Atlantic cod in the western Gulf of Maine appears to be associated with spawning. In the spring, cod were observed to move from offshore areas and aggregate inshore (area 133) to spawn. Post-spawning movements began in June and were characterized as a general dispersion offshore away from the spawning grounds. Cod were again observed to move inshore for spawning in December-January, suggesting the possibility of two distinct spawning groups. These spawning events were each associated with movements in and out of area 133. To determine if these were to distinct groups or the same group spawning twice, average lengths of the three observed spawning groups (Spring 2001, Fall2001/Winter2002, and Spring 2002) were compared. Results showed that both the spring 2001 and 2002 groups had a significantly larger average size than the winter spawning group, suggesting that these are two different age groups of fish. Genetic analyses of these fish, conducted by Kovach et al. at UNH, indicate that the two spawning groups are genetically different. (abstract)

final report

The Northeast Consortium encourages and funds cooperative research and monitoring projects in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank that have effective, equal partnerships among fishermen, scientists, educators, and marine resource managers.

The Northeast Consortium seeks to fund projects that will be conducted in a responsible manner. Cooperative research projects are designed to minimize any negative impacts to ecosystems or marine organisms, and be consistent with accepted ethical research practices, including the use of animals and human subjects in research, scrutiny of research protocols by an institutional board of review, etc.

At the 2008 Maine Fisheremen's Forum, the Northeast Consortium organized a session on data collection and availability. Participants included several key organizations in the Gulf of Maine area, sharing what data are out there and how you can find them. 

The Northeast Consortium has joined the Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership. The purpose of the GoMODP is to promote and coordinate the sharing, linking, electronic dissemination, and use of data on the Gulf of Maine region.

The Northeast Consortium was created in 1999 to encourage and fund effective, equal partnerships among commercial fishermen, scientists, and other stakeholders to engage in cooperative research and monitoring projects in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. The Northeast Consortium consists of four research institutions (University of New Hampshire, University of Maine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), which are working together to foster this initiative.

The Northeast Consortium administers nearly $5M annually from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for cooperative research on a broad range of topics including gear selectivity, fish habitat, stock assessments, and socioeconomics. The funding is appropriated to the National Marine Fisheries Service and administered by the University of New Hampshire on behalf of the Northeast Consortium. Funds are distributed through an annual open competition, which is announced via a Request for Proposals (RFP). All projects must involve partnership between commercial fishermen and scientists.

The Northeast Consortium seeks to fund projects that will be conducted in a responsible manner. Cooperative research projects should be designed to minimize any negative impacts to ecosystems or marine organisms, and be consistent with accepted ethical research practices, including the use of animals and human subjects in research, scrutiny of research protocols by an institutional board of review, etc.