NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-127

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Goosefish, Lophius americanus,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Region

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

September 1999
Recent Issues

105. Review of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) Habitat Requirements and Responses to Contaminant Exposures.

By Renee Mercaldo-Allen and Catherine A. Kuropat. July 1994. v + 52 p., 29 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB96-115555.

106. Selected Living Resources, Habitat Conditions, and Human Perturbations of the Gulf of Maine: Environmental and

Ecological Considerations for Fishery Management. By Richard W. Langton, John B. Pearce, and Jon A. Gibson, eds.

August 1994. iv + 70 p., 2 figs., 6 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB95-270906.

107. Invertebrate Neoplasia: Initiation and Promotion Mechanisms -- Proceedings of an International Workshop, 23 June

1992, Washington, D.C. By A. Rosenfield, F.G. Kern, and B.J. Keller, comps. & eds. September 1994. v + 31 p., 8 figs.,

3 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB96-164801.

108. Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1994. By Conservation and Utilization Division,

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. January 1995. iv + 140 p., 71 figs., 75 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB95-263414.

109. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Potential for Development of Aquaculture in Massachusetts: 15-17 February 1995,

Chatham/Edgartown/Dartmouth, Massachusetts. By Carlos A. Castro and Scott J. Soares, comps. & eds. January 1996.

v + 26 p., 1 fig., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB97-103782.

110. Length-Length and Length-Weight Relationships for 13 Shark Species from the Western North Atlantic. By Nancy E.

Kohler, John G. Casey, Patricia A. Turner. May 1996. iv + 22 p., 4 figs., 15 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB97-135032.

111. Review and Evaluation of the 1994 Experimental Fishery in Closed Area II on Georges Bank. By Patricia A. Gerrior,

Fredric M. Serchuk, Kathleen C. Mays, John F. Kenney, and Peter D. Colosi. October 1996. v + 52 p., 24 figs., 20 tables. NTIS

Access. No. PB98-119159.

112. Data Description and Statistical Summary of the 1983-92 Cost-Earnings Data Base for Northeast U.S. Commercial

Fishing Vessels: A Guide to Understanding and Use of the Data Base. By Amy B. Gautam and Andrew W. Kitts. December

1996. v + 21 p., 11 figs., 14 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB97-169320.

113. Individual Vessel Behavior in the Northeast Otter Trawl Fleet during 1982-92. By Barbara Pollard Rountree. August 1997.

v + 50 p., 1 fig., 40 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB99-169997.

114. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessments -- 1996. By Gordon T. Waring, Debra L. Palka, Keith

D. Mullin, James H.W. Hain, Larry J. Hansen, and Kathryn D. Bisack. October 1997. viii + 250 p., 42 figs., 47 tables. NTIS

Access. No. PB98-112345.

115. Status of Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1998. By Stephen H. Clark, ed. September 1998. vi

+ 149 p., 70 figs., 80 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB99-129694.

116. U.S. Atlantic Marine Mammal Stock Assessments -- 1998. By Gordon T. Waring, Debra L. Palka, Phillip J. Clapham, Steven

Swartz, Marjorie C. Rossman, Timothy V.N. Cole, Kathryn D. Bisack, and Larry J. Hansen. February 1999. vii + 182 p., 16

figs., 56 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB99-134140.

117. Review of Distribution of the Long-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala melas) in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.

By Alan A. Abend and Tim D. Smith. April 1999. vi + 22 p., 14 figs., 3 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB99-165029.

118. Tautog (Tautoga onitis) Life History and Habitat Requirements. By Frank W. Steimle and Patricia A. Shaheen. May 1999.

vi + 23 p., 1 fig., 1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB99-165011.

119. Data Needs for Economic Analysis of Fishery Management Regulations. By Andrew W. Kitts and Scott R. Steinback.

August 1999. iv + 48 p., 10 figs., 22 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB99-171456.

120. Marine Mammal Research Program of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center during 1990-95. By Janeen M. Quintal and

Tim D. Smith. September 1999. v + 28 p., 4 tables, 4 app. NTIS Access. No. PB2000-100809.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

William Daley, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

D. James Baker, Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Northeast Region

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

September 1999

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Goosefish, Lophius americanus,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

Frank W. Steimle, Wallace W. Morse, and Donna L. Johnson

National Marine Fisheries Serv., James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab., 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732

This series represents a secondary level of scientifiic publishing. All issues employ

thorough internal scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review.

Reviews are -- by design -- transparent collegial reviews, not anonymous peer reviews.

All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-127
Editorial Notes on Issues 122-152

in the

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE Series

Editorial Production

For Issues 122-152, staff of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC's) Ecosystems Processes Division have

largely assumed the role of staff of the NEFSC's Editorial Office for technical and copy editing, type composition, and

page layout. Other than the four covers (inside and outside, front and back) and first two preliminary pages, all preprinting

editorial production has been performed by, and all credit for such production rightfully belongs to, the authors and

acknowledgees of each issue, as well as those noted below in "Special Acknowledgments."

Special Acknowledgments

David B. Packer, Sara J. Griesbach, and Luca M. Cargnelli coordinated virtually all aspects of the preprinting editorial

production, as well as performed virtually all technical and copy editing, type composition, and page layout, of Issues

122-152. Rande R. Cross, Claire L. Steimle, and Judy D. Berrien conducted the literature searching, citation checking,

and bibliographic styling for Issues 122-152. Joseph J. Vitaliano produced all of the food habits figures in Issues 122-

152.

Internet Availability

Issues 122-152 are being copublished, i.e., both as paper copies and as web postings. All web postings are, or will soon

be, available at: www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/nefsc/habitat/efh. Also, all web postings will be in "PDF" format.

Information Updating

By federal regulation, all information specific to Issues 122-152 must be updated at least every five years. All official

updates will appear in the web postings. Paper copies will be reissued only when and if new information associated with

Issues 122-152 is significant enough to warrant a reprinting of a given issue. All updated and/or reprinted issues will retain

the original issue number, but bear a "Revised (Month Year)" label.

Species Names

The NMFS Northeast Regions policy on the use of species names in all technical communications is generally to follow

the American Fisheries Societys lists of scientific and common names for fishes (i.e., Robins et al. 1991a), mollusks (i.e.,

Turgeon et al. 1998b

), and decapod crustaceans (i.e., Williams et al. 1989c), and to follow the Society for Marine

Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals (i.e., Rice 1998d). Exceptions to this policy

occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting in changes in the names

of species (e.g., Cooper and Chapleau 1998e

).

a

Robins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes

from the United States and Canada. 5th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20; 183 p.

b

Turgeon, D.D. (chair); Quinn, J.F., Jr.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.;

Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic

invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26; 526 p.

c

Williams, A.B. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D.L.; Hobbs, H.H., Jr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Pérez Farfante, I. 1989. Common and

scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 17; 77 p.

d

Rice, D.W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Soc. Mar. Mammal. Spec. Publ. 4; 231 p.

e

Cooper, J.A.; Chapleau, F. 1998. Monophyly and interrelationships of the family Pleuronectidae (Pleuronectiformes), with a revised classification.

Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 96:686-726.
Page iii

FOREWORD

One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of

commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing

loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (October 11, 1996)

The long-term viability of living marine resources

depends on protection of their habitat.

NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries

Research (February 1998)

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act (MSFCMA), which was reauthorized

and amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996),

requires the eight regional fishery management councils to

describe and identify essential fish habitat (EFH) in their

respective regions, to specify actions to conserve and

enhance that EFH, and to minimize the adverse effects of

fishing on EFH. Congress defined EFH as “those waters

and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding,

feeding or growth to maturity.” The MSFCMA requires

NMFS to assist the regional fishery management councils

in the implementation of EFH in their respective fishery

management plans.

NMFS has taken a broad view of habitat as the area

used by fish throughout their life cycle. Fish use habitat

for spawning, feeding, nursery, migration, and shelter, but

most habitats provide only a subset of these functions.

Fish may change habitats with changes in life history

stage, seasonal and geographic distributions, abundance,

and interactions with other species. The type of habitat,

as well as its attributes and functions, are important for

sustaining the production of managed species.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiled the

available information on the distribution, abundance, and

habitat requirements for each of the species managed by

the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management

Councils. That information is presented in this series of

30 EFH species reports (plus one consolidated methods

report). The EFH species reports comprise a survey of the

important literature as well as original analyses of fisheryJAMES J. HOWARD MARINE SCIENCES LABORATORY

HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY

SEPTEMBER 1999

independent data sets from NMFS and several coastal

states. The species reports are also the source for the

current EFH designations by the New England and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Councils, and have

understandably begun to be referred to as the “EFH source

documents.”

NMFS provided guidance to the regional fishery

management councils for identifying and describing EFH

of their managed species. Consistent with this guidance,

the species reports present information on current and

historic stock sizes, geographic range, and the period and

location of major life history stages. The habitats of

managed species are described by the physical, chemical,

and biological components of the ecosystem where the

species occur. Information on the habitat requirements is

provided for each life history stage, and it includes, where

available, habitat and environmental variables that control

or limit distribution, abundance, growth, reproduction,

mortality, and productivity.

Identifying and describing EFH are the first steps in

the process of protecting, conserving, and enhancing

essential habitats of the managed species. Ultimately,

NMFS, the regional fishery management councils, fishing

participants, Federal and state agencies, and other

organizations will have to cooperate to achieve the habitat

goals established by the MSFCMA.

A historical note: the EFH species reports effectively

recommence a series of reports published by the NMFS

Sandy Hook (New Jersey) Laboratory (now formally

known as the James J. Howard Marine Sciences

Laboratory) from 1977 to 1982. These reports, which

were formally labeled as Sandy Hook Laboratory

Technical Series Reports, but informally known as “Sandy

Hook Bluebooks,” summarized biological and fisheries

data for 18 economically important species. The fact that

the bluebooks continue to be used two decades after their

publication persuaded us to make their successors – the 30

EFH source documents – available to the public through

publication in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFSNE series.

JEFFREY N. CROSS, CHIEF

ECOSYSTEMS PROCESSES DIVISION

NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER
Page v

Contents

Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................................................1

Life History...............................................................................................................................................................................................1

Habitat Characteristics ..............................................................................................................................................................................4

Geographical Distribution .........................................................................................................................................................................5

Status of the Stocks ...................................................................................................................................................................................6

Research Needs .........................................................................................................................................................................................7

Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................................................................................7

References Cited .......................................................................................................................................................................................7

Tables

Table 1. Summary of life history and habitat parameters for goosefish, Lophius americanus..........................................................10

Figures

Figure 1. The adult goosefish (or monkfish), Lophius americanus (from Goode 1884).....................................................................12

Figure 2. Abundance of the major prey items in the diet of goosefish from NEFSC bottom trawl survey data on food habits..........13

Figure 3. Association of goosefish larvae with water temperature and bottom depth from NEFSC MARMAP surveys ...................14

Figure 4. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom temperature and depth from NEFSC bottom trawl surveys........15

Figure 5. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom temperature and depth from Massachusetts trawl surveys .........16

Figure 6. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom temperature and depth from Rhode Island trawl surveys ...........17

Figure 7. The distribution and abundance and size frequency of goosefish captured during Connecticut trawl surveys....................19

Figure 8. Distribution and abundance of goosefish from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras during 1975-1994...................................20

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of goosefish larvae from the NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys ............................21

Figure 10. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult goosefish collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys .....................24

Figure 11. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult goosefish collected during Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys ..........26

Figure 12a. Distribution and abundance of juveniles collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island trawl surveys ......................27

Figure 12b. Distribution and abundance of adults collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island trawl surveys ...........................28

Figure 12c. Size distribution of juveniles and adults collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island trawl surveys.......................29

Figure 13. Commercial landings, survey indices, and stock biomass of goosefish in the Gulf of Maine and Middle Atlantic.............30

Figure 14. Distribution of juvenile and adult goosefish during high and low abundance periods from NEFSC bottom surveys .........31
Page 1

INTRODUCTION

The goosefish (Lophius americanus; Valenciennes

1837), the common name recognized by the American

Fisheries Society (Robins et al. 1991), or monkfish, the

name used in commerce, is a large, slow-growing,

bottom-dwelling anglerfish (Lophiiformes) (Figure 1).

"Angler" is an older common name for this fish. The

goosefish occurs from the southern and eastern parts of

the Grand Banks, (Newfoundland) and the northern side

of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to the east coast of Florida

(to about 29o

 N), but is common only north of Cape

Hatteras (North Carolina). It was once considered

indistinct from the European angler (L. piscatorius; e.g.,

Connolly 1920). Specimens noted in the literature from

the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (e.g., Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953; Jean 1965) were probably misidentified

(Caruso 1983). South of Cape Hatteras, it is sympatric

with the black-lined goosefish (L. gastrophysus) in deep

water (Caruso 1983; Armstrong et al. 1992). Gabriel

(1992) included goosefish in a cold water group

composed of American plaice (Hippoglossoides

platessoides), redfish (Sebastes spp.), witch flounder

(Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), cod (Gadus morhua),

haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and pollock

(Pollachius virens), although others suggested affinities

with species from warmer temperate waters (Jean 1965;

Scott and Scott 1988; Brown et al. 1996).

In U.S. waters, the species is managed under the

Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan of the

New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC

1993). The population is currently managed as two stocks

(north and south of the central axis of Georges Bank),

although there are few biological differences between

stocks. This Essential Fish Habitat source document

provides information on the life history and habitat

requirements of goosefish inhabiting U.S. waters.

LIFE HISTORY

The goosefish is a solitary ambush predator of

invertebrates and fish. It grows to about 140 cm total

length (TL), although few are found greater than 100 cm

TL, and can weigh up to about 22 kg (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953). Females attain a larger size than males;

males typically live about 9 years and females about 11

years (Armstrong et al. 1992; Hartley 1995). The species

has several unusual aspects to its life history, including

releasing its eggs in long, floating, mucus veils.

EGGS

The eggs are relatively large (1.6-1.8 mm) and are

shed within buoyant, ribbon-like, non-adhesive, mucoid

veils or rafts that may be 6-12 m long and 0.15 to 1.5 m

wide and weigh > 5 kg (Connolly 1920; Martin and

Drewry 1978; Armstrong et al. 1992). The method of

fertilization has not been observed or reported. The egg

veils float freely at the surface and are subject to the

actions of wind, currents, and waves. Individual eggs,

shed from the mucus veil, were also reported to be

buoyant (Connolly 1920). The mucus veil manner of egg

production is thought to be unique among fishes. The

veils could contain obnoxious or toxic substances to repel

potential predators and can offer some protection from

predation on individual eggs (Armstrong et al. 1992).

The time to hatching ranges from 6-7 days at 15o

C to

approximately 100 days at 5o

C (Scott and Scott 1988).

LARVAE

Newly hatched larvae (2.5-4.5 mm TL) remain

protected in the open egg chamber within the egg veil for

2-3 days after hatching (Connolly 1920; Dahlgren 1928)

and, upon release, are pelagic. When released from their

egg chamber, the larvae float with their yolk sac upwards.

The yolk is normally absorbed by the time the larvae are

6-8 mm. Connolly (1920), Fahay (1983), and Caruso (in

prep.) describe larval development. The larvae are quite

different in appearance from the adult; they are laterally

flattened with elongated dorsal and pectoral fin rays.

Goosefish larvae are a common component of the

ichthyoplankton community in the Middle Atlantic Bight

and southern New England areas. Larval goosefish in the

Middle Atlantic Bight belong to a continental shelf

assemblage that includes the larvae of bluefish

(Pomatomus saltatrix), hakes (Urophycis spp.), butterfish

(Peprilus triacanthus), cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus),

and several flatfish species (Cowen et al. 1993). More

recently, Grothues and Cowen (1999) redefined the

Middle Atlantic Bight shelf assemblage, to which the

goosefish is associated, to include only: yellowtail

flounder (Limanda ferruginea), Atlantic mackerel

(Scomber scombrus), witch flounder, fourspot flounder

(Paralichthys oblongus), and glacier lanternfish

(Benthosema glaciale). Sherman et al. (1984) listed

goosefish as a minor contributor (1.1% of total larvae) in

the spring larval fish assemblage in the Middle Atlantic

Bight, although it was probably collected in other seasons

at lower abundance levels.

An ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach

replenishment study of the shore zone of north-central

New Jersey collected 149 goosefish larvae from summer

1996 ichthyoplankton net tows through the surf zone; 142

of these larvae were collected in June 1996 (D. Clark,

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEWES-ER-C,

Vicksburg MS, personal communication). It was the third

most abundant larva to be collected, composing 8.1% of

the total number of fish larvae collected that year, and

occurred in 36.4% of the 1996 ichthyoplankton tows.

However, only one goosefish larva was collected from the
Page 2

surf zone in 1995.

Larval to juvenile transition occurs at 5-10 cm TL

when the elongate fins and body gradually assume the

adult form (Fahay 1983) and may take several weeks to

months (Connolly 1920; Wood 1982). This

morphological transformation coincides with the

transition from a pelagic to a benthic existence; the areas

or habitats in which this transition occurs are poorly

known.

JUVENILES

Juveniles are dorsally flattened, similar to the adult

form, with the large mouth for a life on the seabed.

Caruso (in prep.) reported collecting juveniles in trawls at

sizes as small as 76 mm TL and slightly above 100 mm

TL. The size of juvenile goosefish (64-76 mm TL)

captured in the fall can represent growth during their first

season. Scott and Scott (1988) reported a slightly lower

young-of-the-year, pre-winter growth at 59 mm TL in

northern waters. They suggested that juveniles 100-114

mm TL collected in late summer could be in their second

year. Wood (1982) stated that goosefish grow about 100

mm per year. However, Armstrong et al. (1992) reported

faster growth rates, i.e., goosefish reach a mean length of

168 mm TL in the first year and a mean of 420 mm TL at

age 3. Hartley (1995) gives lengths-at-age at 1 year as

120-139 mm TL for Gulf of Maine fish. Armstrong et al.

(1992) reported little difference in growth between the

sexes until about 4 years of age, after which female

growth was greater.

ADULTS

Adults spend most of their time resting on the

bottom, often in a depression or partially covered in

sediment. They favor open sandy bottoms upon which

they can partially bury to support their ambushing method

of predation. Movement is by slow swimming or by

using their sturdy pectoral fins to "walk." However, they

have been reported at the surface, often after a storm

(Connolly 1920), and prey on sea birds (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953). Growth rates reported by Scott and

Scott (1988) for the following sizes and otolith bands are

79 cm (9 bands), 94 cm (10 bands), and one fish 102 cm

(12 bands) (Connolly 1920). After rapid growth (10-11

cm/yr) as juveniles, the annual growth of adults slows to

about 7-8 cm/yr (Armstrong et al. 1992). They also

suggested that growth can be slower in colder waters

north of Cape Cod. This was not the case in another

study where there was little difference in von Bertalanffy

growth parameters between fish from the Gulf of Maine

and Georges Bank (Northeast Fisheries Science Center

1992).

Wilk et al. (1978) examined 939 goosefish (60-1350

mm TL) collected in the New York Bight in 1974-1975

and developed the following length-weight relationships

(log W = a + b log L): Log W = -4.065 + 2.735 (log L) for

males, Log W = -4.349 + 2.842 (log L) for females, and

Log W = -4.594 + 2.928 (log L) for both sexes, where W

= whole weight (g), L = total length (mm), and a and b

are fitted constants. Almeida et al. (1995) give a length

(TL, mm) to total weight (TW, g) relationship for the

sexes combined as: TW = 0.0000410*TL2.849.

REPRODUCTION

Both sexes of goosefish begin to mature at about 30

cm TL. Most males are mature at about 50 cm TL and

most females are mature at about 60 cm TL (Almeida et

al. 1995), which corresponds to about 4 years of age for

males and 5 years for females (Wood 1982). Estimates of

median length at 50% maturity are 32.0-43.3 cm TL for

males and 36.1-48.0 cm TL for females; lengths at

maturity are slightly higher in northern waters (Armstrong

et al. 1992; Almeida et al. 1995; Hartley 1995; NEFMC

1997). Hartley (1995) reported median lengths at

maturity for Gulf of Maine fish as 32 cm TL for males

and 36 cm TL for females. However, Caruso (in prep.)

reported that only a few fish were mature at < 76 cm TL.

Size-at-age data in Armstrong et al. (1992) suggest that

the age at maturity in recent years has declined to about 3

years for males and 3-4 years for females. Hartley (1995)

reviewed length-at-maturity studies and found that from

1975 to 1993 the length at maturity for females decreased

from about 45 cm to 36 cm TL, possibly in response to

changes in population abundance and exploitation rates.

Spawning occurs from spring through early fall with

a peak in May-June (Wood 1982; Armstrong et al. 1992).

Regionally, goosefish spawn in the early spring off the

Carolinas, in May-June in the Gulf of Maine, and into

September in Canadian waters (Scott and Scott 1988;

Hartley 1995). Peak gonadosomatic indices (GSI)

occurred in March-June for males and in May-June for

females (Armstrong et al. 1992). Spawning locations are

not well known, but are thought to be on inshore shoals to

offshore (Connolly 1920; Wood 1982; Scott and Scott

1988).

Armstrong et al. (1992) reported that fecundity

ranges from 300,000 to 2,400,000 eggs for females

between 61 and 105 cm TL. They described the

relationship of total length (TL mm) to fecundity by the

equation: Fecundity = 4,495.04(TL) - 2,403,814.8.

Connolly (1920) and Berrill (1929) also estimated that the

number of eggs in a single veil ranged from about 1.3 to

3.2 million.

FOOD HABITS

Larvae feed on zooplankton, including copepods,
Page 3

crustacean larvae, and chaetognaths (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953). Small juveniles (5-20 cm TL) start

eating fish, such as sand lance (Ammodytes spp.), soon

after they settle to the bottom, but invertebrates,

especially crustaceans such as red (bristle-beaked) shrimp

(Dichelopandalus leptocerus) and squid, can make up a

large part of their diet. The consumption of invertebrates

decreases among larger juveniles (20-40 cm TL) and

goosefish > 40 cm TL eat few invertebrates (Armstrong et

al. 1996).

In the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

food habits database, the diet of goosefish about 30 to 120

cm TL (n=1,108) was 60-95% fish by volume.

Interestingly, the 1973-1980 data suggest an increased use

of fish with increasing TL, while the 1981-1990 data

suggest a decreased use of fish with increasing TL;

however, the stomach examination methods differed

between the two periods (Reid et al. 1999). There was

little variation in major contributors to the diets over

different seasons or areas, although mollusks (mostly

squid) were only important south of Georges Bank. Diets

can vary regionally and seasonally, depending on what is

available as prey (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953).

Goosefish are opportunistic feeders; prey found in

their stomachs include a variety of benthic and pelagic

species. Goosefish collected during the NEFSC bottom

trawl survey consumed primarily crustaceans

(“arthropods”), squid (“molluscs”), and fish (Figure 2).

Goosefish eat spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), skates

(Raja spp.), eels, sand lance, herring, Atlantic menhaden

(Brevoortia tyrannus), smelt (Osmeridae), mackerel

(Scomber spp.), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), cunner,

tautog (Tautoga onitis), black sea bass (Centropristis

striata), butterfish, pufferfish, sculpins, sea raven

(Hemitripterus americanus), searobins (Prionotus spp.),

silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis), Atlantic tomcod

(Microgadus tomcod), cod, haddock, hake (Urophycis

spp.), witch and other flounders, squid, large crustaceans,

and other benthic invertebrates (Field 1906; Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953; Wood 1982; Sedberry 1983; Vinogradov

1984; Armstrong et al. 1996). Goosefish can also eat sea

birds and diving ducks (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953) and

will attack non-living objects, such as lobster trap floats

(Connolly 1920). Cannibalism (non-kin, inter-cohort) is

important and perhaps explains the apparent high

mortality of smaller males (Armstrong et al. 1992; 1996).

Larger goosefish eat larger prey (Sedberry 1983) and

often have empty stomachs (Armstrong et al. 1996). In

the NEFSC diet database for 1973-1990, 50-70% of the

stomachs of goosefish 20-110 cm TL were empty, but

only 1-20% of the stomachs of those about 120 cm TL

were empty.

Goosefish catch their prey by ambush or in a sudden

rush. The rapid opening of the large mouth creates a

vacuum and the prey are caught on needle-like,

backward-curving teeth (Armstrong et al. 1996; Gosline

1996). Like most anglerfish, a small, dangling, lure-like

appendage above the mouth is used to attract small fish.

This lure can be only effective in shallow, adequately

lighted waters (Gosline 1996). Bigelow and Schroeder

(1953) reported that a goosefish meal could equal half its

body weight.

PREDATION

Adult goosefish have few enemies (Wood 1982).

However, smaller fish are cannibalized and swordfish

(Xiphias gladius) have been reported to eat goosefish

(Scott and Scott 1988). In the NEFSC food habits

database, goosefish (number consumed also in

parentheses) were eaten by: spiny dogfish (12), thorny

skate (Raja radiata, 2), goosefish (2), smooth dogfish

(Mustelus canis, 2), cod (2), sandbar shark (Carcharhinus

plumbeus, 1), and dusky shark (C. obscurus, 1). The

frequency of occurrence of goosefish in stomachs was <

2% for these predator species. Stillwell and Kohler

(1993), however, reported that goosefish made up 16.1%

of the total volume of food in 20 sandbar sharks stomachs

examined from the Middle Atlantic Bight.

MIGRATION

Goosefish make seasonal onshore-offshore

migrations in response to thermal conditions. In the Gulf

of Maine, > 20 cm TL goosefish move and stay offshore

to avoid cold coastal conditions in the winter-spring, and

return inshore as coastal waters warm in the summer and

fall (Jean 1965; Scott and Scott 1988; Hartley 1995).

Besides temperature, availability of prey could also be a

factor in movements in this area. However, small < 20

cm TL Gulf of Maine and Middle Atlantic Bight

goosefish respond oppositely to seasonal conditions,

moving and staying inshore in the winter-spring and

offshore in the summer-fall (Almeida et al. 1995; Hartley

1995). The goosefish in the Middle Atlantic Bight may

be avoiding overly warm inshore summer conditions and

taking advantage of a residual cold pool that stays on the

mid- to outer shelf (Edwards et al. 1962; Woods 1982).

STOCK STRUCTURE

North American and European Lophius were once

considered to be a single species. However, Lophius

americanus and L. piscatorius are now considered

separate, although closely-related, species (Berrill 1929;

Grant and Leslie 1993; Caruso, in prep.). There is no

evidence of distinct North American stocks of L.

americanus. For management purposes, the species is

separated into a northern component, from the Gulf of

Maine to northern Georges Bank, and a southern

component from central Georges Bank to the Middle
Page 4

Atlantic Bight (Almeida et al. 1995).

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS

Goosefish live in the water column during the egg

and larval stages and shift to a benthic existence during

their juvenile and adult stages. The characteristics of the

habitats inhabited by goosefish are summarized in this

section and in Table 1.

EGGS

For most or all of this life stage, the eggs occur

within the mucus veil in the upper part of the water

column. Severe weather can damage the veil and release

isolated eggs. Eggs were collected near Cape Lookout,

North Carolina in March and April (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953), in May off Cape Hatteras, and off

southern New England, but not after September.

Incubation proceeds at temperatures as low as about 4o

C

to about 18o

C or higher (Caruso, in prep.). Hatching was

estimated to take 100 days at 5o

C and 6-7 days at 15oC;

the upper temperature limit for normal was 17-18o

C

(Scott and Scott 1988).

LARVAE

In the NEFSC Marine Resources Monitoring,

Assessment and Prediction (MARMAP) ichthyoplankton

survey, larvae were first collected over deeper (> 300 m),

offshore waters in the Middle Atlantic Bight during

March-April; later, larvae were most abundant across the

continental shelf at depths between 30 to 90 m (Figure 3).

Larvae were most abundant at integrated water column

temperatures between 10-16o

C, although there was one

collection at 4o

C in January. Peak catches generally

occurred at 11-15o

C regardless of the month or area

(Figure 3).

JUVENILES

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, juvenile

goosefish were collected at bottom water temperatures

between 3-13o

C in spring and autumn; abundance peaked

at about 5-6o

C in spring and about 8-12oC in fall (Figure

4). Juvenile goosefish were not collected at temperatures

> 13o

C and at depths < 20 m, such as inshore along the

Middle Atlantic Bight and on the center of Georges Bank.

In the Gulf of Maine, Hartley (1995) reported that

juveniles were collected from 2.3o

C (< 20 cm TL fish in

winter) to 7.6o

C (< 34 cm TL fish in fall). Peak catches in

the Massachusetts survey occurred at 5-7o

C in spring and

8-12o

C in autumn (Figure 5). The bimodal temperature

distribution is evident in Figure 5, particularly in autumn.

This is the result of cooler temperatures north of Cape

Cod and warmer temperatures south of the Cape. This

can also be seen in the NEFSC bottom trawl survey data,

but only for spring (Figure 4). The few juvenile goosefish

that were collected in Narragansett Bay during the Rhode

Island trawl survey (1990-1996) were caught at

temperatures ranging from 3-19o

C (Figure 6). Few

goosefish were collected in Long Island Sound during the

Connecticut trawl survey; most of these appeared to be

juveniles that were collected only in the spring at 8-18o

C,

from 10-40 m in depth, and at salinities between 26-29

ppt (Figure 7).

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, about 50% of all

juvenile goosefish were caught between 25 and 99 m in

spring and autumn with peak abundance at about 50-75 m

(Figure 4). In the Massachusetts bottom trawl survey,

juvenile goosefish occurred in shallower water in the

spring (to 5 m) and deeper (> 20 m) in the fall (Figure 5).

In the Gulf of Maine, juveniles < 20 cm TL and juveniles

20-34 cm TL had slightly different mean seasonal depth

preferences (Hartley 1995). In the winter-spring, the

smallest juveniles were commonly collected in mean

depths of 91-177 m, while larger juveniles were collected

in mean depths of 113-182 m. During summer-fall, the

smallest fish were commonly collected at deeper mean

depths, 167-182 m compared to 120-150 m for larger

juveniles. In Narragansett Bay, juveniles were usually

collected only in > 30 m during all seasons (Figure 6).

Hartley (1995) found that all stages of goosefish were

mostly collected at mean salinities of between 32.6 and

33.9 ppt in the Gulf of Maine.

Scott and Scott (1988), referencing Connolly (1920),

state that newly settled juveniles seek protection among

algae covered rocks. Richards (1963a) collected one 19.5

cm goosefish in January in Long Island Sound on a 9 m

deep, sand-shell bottom. The distribution of goosefish in

Long Island Sound (Figure 7) suggests that juveniles

occurred most frequently in the deeper, silty basins (Reid

et al. 1979).

ADULTS

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, adult goosefish

were collected at bottom water temperatures between 0-

24o

C and were most abundant between 4-14oC (Figure 4).

Adults were commonly collected at spring temperatures

of 6-8o

C and 11-12oC and at autumn temperatures of 9-

11o

C. Hartley (1995) found that adult abundance peaked

at mean bottom temperatures of 5-8o

C. Peak catches in

the Massachusetts survey had a bimodal temperature

distribution, which was the result of cooler temperatures

north of Cape Cod and warmer temperatures south of the

Cape (Figure 5). In Narragansett Bay, adult goosefish

were only collected in the spring and summer at

temperatures between 7-14o

C (Figure 6). Excessively
Page 5

cold water or a rapid drop in coastal temperatures might

be fatal; Sherwood et al. (1901) reported fall mortalities

of adults near Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Hartley

(1995) speculated that these "kills" could also be

explained as a result of post-spawning stress.

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, adults were more

abundant in deeper waters (to 500 m) in the spring

(Figure 4). Adults were most abundant between 50-99 m

and rarely occurred below 200 m in the autumn. In the

Gulf of Maine, adults > 34 cm TL fish occurred at mean

depths of 130-140 m from summer through winter and at

206 m in the spring (Hartley 1995). In the Massachusetts

bottom trawl survey, adults were common in < 35 m of

water in the spring and at 20-60 m in the fall (Figure 5).

In Narragansett Bay, adult goosefish were only collected

at 32 m where the Bay meets Rhode Island Sound (Figure

6). No adults were collected in the Connecticut trawl

survey in Long Island Sound.

Salinity preferences vary seasonally, but adults occur

between about 30-36 ppt with the mean at about 33.5 ppt

(Hartley 1995).

Adults were found on hard sand, pebbly-gravel

bottoms, mixed sand and shell, and mud in the Gulf of

Maine (MacDonald et al. 1984; Caruso, in prep.) and they

preferred clay and mud over sand and gravel on the

Scotian Shelf (Scott 1982).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

The goosefish occurs from the southern and eastern

parts of the Grand Banks (Newfoundland) and the

northern side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the east coast

of Florida (to about 29o

 N), but is common only north of

Cape Hatteras (Figure 8). This section is a summary of

several surveys of the distribution and relative abundance

of goosefish life history stages [methods are summarized

in Reid et al. (1999)].

EGGS

Spawning has been reported in Canadian waters

(Connolly 1920), the Gulf of Maine (Hartley 1995), and

south of Cape Cod (Armstrong et al. 1992). However, the

eggs were only occasionally caught in the NEFSC

MARMAP ichthyoplankton survey from the Gulf of

Maine to North Carolina. Eggs were not collected in

Sandy Hook Bay (Croker 1965) and only rarely in Long

Island Sound (Merriman and Sclar 1952; Wheatland

1956), but they have been reported in open coastal bays

and sounds in low numbers (Smith 1898; Herman 1963;

Caruso, in prep.).

LARVAE

The NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton survey

(1977-1987) captured goosefish larvae throughout much

of the survey area (Figure 9). Most larvae were collected

south of Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. The ICNAF data for

Canadian waters do not alter this conclusion (Hartley

1995). Significant numbers of larvae were captured from

April to September and peak abundance occurred in June

and July. Larvae occurred off North Carolina and near

the 200 m isobath in April. By May, the larvae were

widespread on the shelf from North Carolina to southern

New Jersey, and by June, they were found off southern

New England. In July, the larvae were concentrated off

New Jersey to just south of Cape Cod; a few were

collected on Georges Bank. The numbers of larvae

declined during August and September and were scattered

from New Jersey to Georges Bank and into the Gulf of

Maine.

Although larvae were widely collected in the Middle

Atlantic Bight, they are not common and are seldom

found inshore. Kendall and Naplin (1981) collected 63

larvae (0.6/m3

) in the New York Bight in July 1974.

Hildebrand and Schroeder (1928) and Pearson (1941)

collected larvae near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in

May-June. Five larvae/post-larvae were collected during

May (1979-1980) in estuaries near Parramore and Cedar

Islands, Virginia (Cowan and Birdsong 1985); 5-8 mm

larvae were collected in May 1960 at the mouth of

Chesapeake Bay (Virginia Institute Marine Sciences

1961). Larvae were not reported in ichthyoplankton

surveys of Delaware Bay (Wang and Kernehan 1979),

Delaware coastal bays (Scotton 1970), the Gulf of Maine,

Cape Cod, or on Georges Bank (Fish 1925; Colton and

Byron 1977). They are reported to occur in Long Island

Sound and the Hudson-Raritan estuary by Wheatland

(1956) and Dovel (1981), but not in Sandy Hook Bay

(Croker 1965), Block Island Sound, or Narragansett Bay

(Merriman and Sclar 1952; Herman 1963). A relatively

large number of goosefish larvae (149) were collected

during the summer (mostly in July) 1996 in a study of the

surf zone along the New Jersey coast (D. Clark, US Army

Corps of Engineers, CEWES-ER-C, Vicksburg MS,

personal communication).

JUVENILES

Bean (1888) reported that young goosefish occurred

mid-shelf off Long Island, and Smith (1898) collected ≥

10 cm TL individuals in traps near Vineyard Sound, MA.

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, juvenile goosefish (<

43 cm TL) were concentrated offshore (> 60 m) from

Maryland to Georges Bank and nearshore off southern

New England in winter (Figure 10); they were not

collected at the shallowest depths (< 20 m) or the coldest

temperatures (< 3o

C). In spring, juvenile goosefish were
Page 6

widespread on the shelf with concentrations off southern

New England and offshore in the Middle Atlantic Bight.

Few fish occurred on the shallows of Georges Bank,

Nantucket Shoals, or inshore in the Middle Atlantic Bight.

Again, goosefish avoided the coldest water and shallowest

depths. By summer, juvenile goosefish were most

abundant along the western half of the Gulf of Maine and

off southern New England. Their autumn distribution

was similar to that in spring. Hartley (1995) reported that

immature goosefish were ubiquitous in the Gulf of Maine

in spring and autumn 1992-1993. Juveniles were

approximately four times more abundant than adults in

the Massachusetts bottom trawl survey and occurred

almost exclusively north of Cape Cod in the cooler waters

(Figure 11).

Juveniles are rarely reported in most estuarine

surveys from North Carolina to Maine (Derickson and

Price 1973; Epperly 1984; Cowan and Birdsong 1985;

Jury et al. 1994). Only three juveniles (23-35 cm TL)

were collected in the Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl survey

(1990-1996) and then only in the winter (S. Wilk, NMFS,

NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory,

Highlands, NJ, personal communication). In Narragansett

Bay, juveniles (< 43 cm TL) were collected in low

numbers in all seasons (Figure 12a, c). In the Connecticut

trawl survey of Long Island Sound, juveniles were rarely

collected and only in the central Sound (Figure 7).

ADULTS

Adult goosefish are most common in continental

shelf waters less than 668 m; they occur south of New

England in waters as deep as 800 m (Schroeder 1955;

Schaefer 1967; Markle and Musick 1974; Armstrong et

al. 1992). In the early 1950s, Schroeder (1955) reported

that goosefish were common between 50-450 fathoms

throughout its range during summer. A few years later,

Fritz (1965) found that autumn catches from New Jersey

to Nova Scotia were low and averaged ≤ 4 goosefish per

5.5 hr trawl tow. He found them mostly on the periphery

of Georges Bank and southeast of Nova Scotia.

In the NEFSC bottom trawl survey, adult goosefish

occurred offshore in the winter (Figure 10). In the spring

they were found in deeper waters off Virginia, inshore

along the New York Bight, and offshore off southern New

England, Georges Bank, and Gulf of Maine. Adult

goosefish were most abundant in the Gulf of Maine

during the summer and off southern New England and

northwest Georges Bank in the fall. Few large fish are

reported below 400 m (possibly a NEFSC survey depth

limit factor) and they are absent from shallow areas on

Georges Bank. Adults also occur in inshore Gulf of

Maine in the summer, fall, and winter, and are widely

distributed in deeper water in the spring (Almeida et al.

1995; Hartley 1995). Wenner (1978) reported that

goosefish were collected in Norfolk Canyon to depths of

600 m, but were most common between 200-400 m.

Colvocoresses and Musick (1984) considered

goosefish to be ubiquitous across the shelf in the Middle

Atlantic Bight and associated with silver hake

(Merluccius bilinearis), fourspot flounder, spiny dogfish,

and red hake (Urophycis chuss). de Sylva et al. (1962)

reported that goosefish were commonly taken by trawlers

well up in Delaware Bay in the winter, although it was

sometimes found there in moribund condition. Breder

(1922) reported that a few were collected in the fall in the

Hudson-Raritan estuary. Richards (1963b) collected two

61 cm TL goosefish in central Long Island Sound during

September and January. Caruso (in prep.) reported that

goosefish congregate beneath shoals of herring, and

Wood (1982) suggested that food availability could affect

seasonal distributions, at least in the Middle Atlantic

Bight.

In the Massachusetts bottom trawl survey in the

spring, adult goosefish occurred throughout the survey

area except in Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound

(Figure 11). Adults, like juveniles, were not abundant

anywhere in the survey area (maximum catch was 6 fish).

Autumn catches of adults were mainly north and east of

Cape Cod. The seasonal change in distribution in the

Gulf of Maine (inshore in summer and offshore in winter)

is evident in the Massachusetts data. Adults were widely

distributed in spring north and south of Cape Cod and had

no temperature preference. In autumn, adults were

distributed north of the Cape and thus occur in cooler

waters. In spring, adults were found at all depths but

were most abundant between 30 and 60 m. In autumn,

adults were found at all depths with a peak at 30 m.

Adults were collected at the mouth of Narragansett Bay in

low abundance in the spring and summer during the

Rhode Island bottom trawl survey (Figure 12b, c).

STATUS OF THE STOCKS

Goosefish were once considered bycatch and "trash

fish" in trawls, scallop dredges, and on hook and line.

Until the early 1970s, those that were landed were mostly

processed for fishmeal, although they were long

considered a delicacy in Europe. Since the 1970s,

goosefish tails began appearing more frequently in

markets and restaurants. Landings increased significantly

after 1972, almost doubling for a few years (Wood 1982),

and reached 19,000 metric tons (mt) in the 1990s (Idoine

1995). Recently, an oriental export market has developed

for goosefish livers (Almeida et al. 1995).

Goosefish stocks and the average size caught have

declined dramatically as the harvests have increased

(Idoine 1995; Figure 13). The NEFSC autumn trawl

index for goosefish declined sharply over the past 15

years for the northern and southern stocks (Idoine 1995;

Northeast Fisheries Science Center 1997; NEFMC 1997).

The peak in survey catches occurred during 1977-1981
Page 7

and record low catches have occurred since 1992.

Comparisons were made between the distribution of

juvenile and adult goosefish between a period of high

population abundance (1977-1981) and a period of low

abundance (1992-1996). The two areas of high juvenile

abundance in 1977-1981 (southern New England and the

Middle Atlantic) showed a dramatic decline in abundance

by 1992-1996 (Figure 14). Catches of juveniles increased

on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine between these

periods. In recent years, adults are nearly absent in the

spring survey from areas of traditional high abundance

south of Cape Cod. The highest catches are now in the

Gulf of Maine. The stocks of this species are currently

considered overfished, which for goosefish is defined as

NEFSC survey catches less than 33% of the mean

abundance index for the period 1963-1994 (National

Marine Fisheries Service 1997).

RESEARCH NEEDS

• The scarcity of eggs and larvae in the Gulf of Maine,

and eggs (veiled or unveiled) in ichthyoplankton

studies, in general, needs attention (Caruso, in prep.).

• Better estimates of abundance and distribution are

needed beyond the continental shelf break. i.e.,

deeper than 350 m (Northeast Fisheries Science

Center 1992).

• Better age and growth data, especially for the Middle

Atlantic Bight, are needed for both sexes (Northeast

Fisheries Science Center 1992).

• The possibility of critical spawning areas should be

investigated.

• Better information is needed on the egg incubation

period and early larval development.

• The duration of the pelagic larval phase needs better

estimation; larval prey need to be determined.

• More information is needed about the habitat and

survival requirements of recently settled juveniles.

• The role of the mucus veil in egg incubation and

protection is poorly known.

• Are the occasional adult mortalities found on beaches

in the fall mostly post-spawned females?

• How important is the surf zone in the Middle Atlantic

Bight for goosefish larvae?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was a team effort. We thank Claire

Steimle, Judy Berrien and Rande Ramsey-Cross for

literature searches and loans. We also thank Peter Berrien

and Stuart Wilk for searching the MARMAP and HudsonRaritan estuary databases for egg, larvae, and juvenile

occurrences. Additional thanks to Arnold Howe

(Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries) and

Frank Almeida (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) for

comments and suggestions.

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Atlantic Bight. Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 79: 705-726.

MacDonald, J.S., M.J. Dadswell, R.G. Appy, G.D.

Melvin and D.A. Methven. 1984. Fishes, fish

assemblages, and their seasonal movements in lower

Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay, Canada.

Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 82: 121-139.

Markle, D.F. and J.A. Musick. 1974. Benthic-slope fishes

found at 900 m depth along a transect in the western

N. Atlantic Ocean. Mar. Biol. 26: 225-233.

Martin, F.D. and G.E. Drewry. 1978. Development of

fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight: An atlas of egg,

larval and juvenile stages. Vol. 6: Stromateidae

through Ogcocephalidae. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol.

Serv. Prog. FWS/OBS 78/12. 416 p.

Merriman, D. and R.C. Sclar. 1952. The pelagic fish eggs

and larvae of Block Island Sound. In G.A. Riley et al.

eds. Hydrographic and biological studies of Block

Island Sound. p. 165-219. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr.

Collect. 13(3).

National Marine Fisheries Service. 1997. Report to

Congress. Status of fisheries of the United States:

Report on the status of fisheries of the United States.

September 1997. [Homepage of the National Marine

Fisheries Service]. [Online]. Available: http://www.

nmfs.gov/sfa/Fstatus.html.

[NEFMC] New England Fishery Management Council.

1993. Final amendment #5 to the Northeast

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan incorporating

the supplemental environmental impact statement.
Page 9

Vol. 1. September 1993. NEFMC. [Saugus, MA.]

361 p.

[NEFMC] New England Fishery Management Council.

1997. Draft supplemental environmental impact

statement for draft amendment 9 to the Multispecies

Fishery Management Plan to regulate monkfish.

February 1997. NEFMC. [Saugus, MA.] 186 p.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 1992. Report of the

Fourteenth Northeast Regional Stock Assessment

Workshop (14th SAW). Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent.

Ref. Doc. 92-07. 140 p. + appendix.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 1997. Report of the

23rd Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop

(23rd SAW): Stock Assessment Review Committee

(SARC) consensus summary of assessments.

Northeast Fish. Sci. Cent. Ref. Doc. 97-05. 191 p.

Pearson, J.C. 1941. The young of some marine fishes

taken in lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, with

special reference to the gray sea trout, Cynoscion

regalis (Bloch). Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 50: 79-102.

Reid, R., F. Almeida, and C. Zetlin. 1999. Essential fish

habitat source document: Fishery independent

surveys, data sources, and methods. NOAA Tech.

Mem. NMFS-NE-122. 39 p.

Reid, R.N., A.B. Frame, and A.F. Draxler. 1979.

Environmental baselines in Long Island Sound, 1972-

73. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS SSRF-738. 31 p.

Richards, S.W. 1963a. The demersal fish population of

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relative abundance in two localities, 1956-57. Bull.

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Scott, W.B. and M.G. Scott. 1988. Atlantic fishes of

Canada. Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 219. 731 p.

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fishes in the Indian River and Rehobeth bays, June

1968-March 1970. M.S. thesis. Univer. of Delaware,

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Sedberry, G.R. 1983. Food habits and trophic

relationships of a community of fishes on the outer

continental shelf. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS-SSRF773. 56 p.

Sherman, K., W. Smith, W. Morse, M. Berman, J. Green

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in relation to circulation, phytoplankton production,

and pulses in zooplankton off the northeastern United

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migration, spawning, abundance, etc., of certain

fishes in 1900. Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm. 21: 27-33.

Smith, H.M. 1898. The fishes found in the vicinity of

Woods Hole. Bull. U.S. Fish. Comm. 17: 85-111.

Stillwell, C.E. and N.E. Kohler. 1993. Food habits of the

sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus off the U.S.

northeastern coast, with estimates of daily ration.

Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 91: 138-150.

Vinogradov, V.I. 1984. Food of silver hake, red hake and

other fishes of Georges Bank and adjacent waters,

1968-74. Northwest Atl. Fish. Organ. (NAFO) Sci.

Counc. Stud. 7: 87-94.

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larvae collected from Atlantic plankton cruises of

R/V Pathfinder December 1959-December 1960.

Virginia Inst. Mar. Sci. Fish. Lab. Spec. Sci. Rep. 26.

Wang, J.C.S. and R.J. Kernehan. 1979. Fishes of the

Delaware estuaries: a guide to the early life histories.

EA Communications, Towson, MD. 410 p.

Wenner, C.A. 1978. Making a living on the continental

slope and in the deep sea: life history of some

dominant fishes of the Norfolk Canyon area. Ph.D.

dissertation. Coll. William and Mary, Williamsburg,

VA. 294 p.

Wheatland, S.B. 1956. Pelagic fish eggs and larvae. In

G.A. Riley et al. eds. Oceanography of Long Island

Sound, 1952-1954. p. 234-314. Bull. Bingham

Oceanogr. Collect. 15.

Wilk, S.J., W.W. Morse and D.E. Ralph. 1978. Lengthweight relationships of fishes collected in the New

York Bight. Bull. N.J. Acad. Sci. 23: 58-64.

Wood, P.W., Jr. 1982. Goosefish, Lophius americanus. In

M.D. Grosslein and T.R. Azarovitz eds. Fish

distribution. p. 67-70. MESA New York Bight Atlas

Monograph 15. N.Y. Sea Grant Institute, Albany,

NY.
Page 10

Table 1. Summary of life history and habitat parameters for goosefish, Lophius americanus. (MAB = Middle Atlantic

Bight; SNE = southern New England; GB = Georges Bank; GOM = Gulf of Maine).

Life Stage Time of Year Size and Growth Geographic

Location

Habitat Substrate

Eggs March -

September,

south to

north, peak in

June.

1.6-1.8 mm

diameter; hatch in

7-100 days

Rarely collected,

inner to mid

continental shelf,

SNE, and MAB;

not in estuaries.

Upper water

column, see

notes

(pelagic)

Larvae March -

September,

south to

north, peak in

June-July.

2.5-4.5 mm at

hatching;

transition to

juvenile at 5-10

cm

Mainly mid-shelf

in SNE and

MAB; few on

GB, in GOM or

inshore (but see

note).

Upper to

lower water

column, at

depths of 15

to > 1000

m; mostly

30-90 m.

(pelagic)

Juveniles All months 6.4 to ~43 cm TL;

can grow ~10-15

cm TL/yr.

GOM: offshore

in summer/fall,

inshore in

winter/spring;

southern GB,

SNE: mostly mid

to outer shelf;

MAB: mostly

outer shelf

Seabed, >

20 m, peak

abundance

at 40-75 m.

Mud to gravelly

sand, algae, and

rocks.

Adults All months 43 to ~120-140

cm; grow ~7-8

cm/yr.; females

grow faster than

males. No

difference in

growth between

GOM and MAB.

GOM: offshore

in spring, inshore

in summer fall;

SNE/MAB:

inshore in

winter, offshore

in summer fall

Seabed, 1-

800 m, most

50-99 m,

sometimes

at surface.

GOM: 130-

206 m.

Mud to gravelly

sand, algae and

rocks.

Spawning

Adults

February -

August, south

to north; peak

in May.

Maturity at ~32

cm (males), 36

cm females.

Mid-continental

shelf off SNE

and MAB, some

in GOM.

Same as

adults.

Same as adults

(?).
Page 11

Table 1. cont’d.

Life Stage Temperature Salinity Prey Predators Notes

Eggs 4-18°C or higher Contained in long

mucus veils that

float near or at

surface.

Larvae 6-20°C, most in

11-15°C

Probably

zooplankton.

A recent study

collected 149

larvae in the surf

along central NJ

in summer 1996.

Juveniles 2-24°C, most 3-

13°C; cooler in

GOM.

GOM: 30-

36 ppt;

mean 33.5

ppt

Small fish,

shrimp, and

squid; the

proportion of

fish increases

with fish size.

Various sharks,

skates, cod, and

monkfish.

Adults Seasonally

variable,

0-24°C; mostly 4-

14°C.

GOM: 30-

36 ppt;

mean 33.5

ppt

Mostly fish,

some

crustaceans,

mollusks, and

occasionally

seabirds; varies

with

availability.

Some of those

listed for

juveniles.

Cold water or

post-spawning

mortalities

reported in fall.

Spawning

Adults

Same as adults

(?).

Same as

adults (?)

Same as adults

(?)

Same as adults

(?)

In GOM, size-atmaturity

decreased from

45 cm to 36 cm

since 1975.
Page 12

Figure 1. The adult goosefish (or monkfish), Lophius americanus (from Goode 1884).
Page 13

Figure 2. Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items in the diet of goosefish from NEFSC bottom trawl survey

data on food habits for 1973-1980 and 1981-1990. The category “animal remains” refers to unidentifiable animal matter.

Methods for sampling, processing, and analysis of samples differed between the time periods [see Reid et al. (1999) for

details].

Fish 62.9%

Mollusca 15.4%

Arthropoda 7.5%

Aschelminths 4.0%

Unknown Animal Remains 3.5%

Other Prey 6.8%

Fish 77.8%

Mollusca 10.1%

Arthropoda 6.1%

Unknown Animal Remains 3.8%

Other Prey 2.2%

n = 412

n = 348

a) 1973-1980

b) 1981-1990
Page 14

Figure 3. Association of goosefish larvae with integrated water column temperature (to a maximum of 200 m) and

bottom depth from the NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, 1977-1987, by month for all years combined. Open

bars represent the proportion of all stations which were surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of

all standardized catches (number/10 m2

).

January

0

10

20

90

100

Stations

Larva Catch

April

0

10

20

30

Goosefish Larvae

September

0

10

20

30

May

0

10

20

40

50

June

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

July

0

10

20

30

August

0

10

20

30

October

0

10

20

30

40

March

0

10

20

30

40

November

Bottom Depth (m), Interval Midpoint

10

30

50

70

90

110

130

150

170

190

210

230

250

270

290

325

375

450

750

1250

1750

>2000

0

10

20

30

5060

January

0

10

20

30

90

100

Stations

Larva Catch

April

0

10

20

30

May

0

10

20

30

June

Percent

0

10

20

July

0

10

20

30

August

0

10

20

30

November

Water-Column Temperature (0-200m, C)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

0

10

20

40

50

Goosefish Larvae

September

0

10

20

30

March

0

10

20

30

40

October

0

10

20

40

60
Page 15

Figure 4. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom water temperature and depth from the NEFSC bottom

trawl surveys, 1963-1997, by season for all years combined. Open bars represent the proportion of all stations which

were surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all standardized catches (number/10 m2

).

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 0

4

8

12

16

20

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 0

4

8

12

16

20

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

10

20

30

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

4

8

12

16

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 0

4

8

12

16

20

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 0

4

8

12

16

Juveniles 20 Adults

Stations

Catches

Spring Spring

Spring Spring

Autumn Autumn

Autumn Autumn

Bottom Depth (m) Bottom Depth (m)

Bottom Depth (m) Bottom Depth (m)

Bottom Temperature (C) Bottom Temperature (C)

Bottom Temperature (C) Bottom Temperature (C)

NMFS Bottom Trawl Surveys

Goosefish
Page 16

Figure 5. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom water temperature and depth from the Massachusetts

bottom trawl surveys, spring and autumn 1978-1996. Open bars represent the proportion of all stations which were

surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all standardized catches (number/10 m2

).

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 0

10

20

30

40

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 0

10

20

30

40

50

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 0

5

10

15

20

25

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 0

4

8

12

16

Juveniles Adults

Stations

Catches

Spring Spring

Spring Spring

Autumn Autumn

Autumn Autumn

Bottom Depth (m) Bottom Depth (m)

Bottom Depth (m) Bottom Depth (m)

Bottom Temperature (C) Bottom Temperature (C)

Bottom Temperature (C) Bottom Temperature (C)

Mass. Inshore Trawl Surveys

Goosefish
Page 17

Figure 6. Association of juvenile and adult goosefish with bottom temperature and depth from the Rhode Island bottom

trawl surveys in Narragansett Bay, spring and autumn 1990-1996. Open bars represent the proportion of all stations

which were surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all standardized catches (number/10 m2

).

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

10

20

30

40

50

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

10

20

30

40

50

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

10

20

30

40

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

20

40

60

Bottom Temperature (C)

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Goosefish

Juveniles (< 43 cm) Stations

Catches

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0

20

40

60

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0

20

40

60

80

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

40

50

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

20

40

60

80

Winter

Autumn

Summer

Spring

Stations

Catches

Bottom Depth (ft)

Goosefish

Juveniles (< 43 cm)
Page 18

Figure 6. cont’d.

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

3

6

9

12

15

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

20

40

60

80

100

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

20

40

60

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

4

8

12

16

20

Bottom Temperature (C)

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Goosefish

Adults (> 43 cm) Stations

Catches

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0

10

20

30

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0

20

40

60

80

100

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

20

40

60

80

100

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

Winter

Autumn

Summer

Spring

Stations

Catches

Bottom Depth (ft)

Goosefish

Adults (> 43 cm)
Page 19

Figure 7. The distribution and abundance and size frequency distribution of goosefish captured in Long Island Sound

during the Connecticut bottom trawl surveys, 1992-1997 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <3

State of Connecticut DEP

Fisheries Division

Long Island Sound Trawl Survey

SPRING 1992 - 1997

State of Connecticut DEP

Fisheries Division

Long Island Sound Trawl Survey

AUTUMN 1992 - 1997

Goosefish

Goosefish

None Caught
Page 20

Figure 8. Distribution and abundance of goosefish from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras during 1975-1994. Data are

from the U.S. NOAA/Canada DFO East Coast of North America Strategic Assessment Project (http://www-orca.nos.

noaa.gov/projects/ ecnasap/ecnasap_table1.html).
Page 21

Figure 9. Distribution and abundance of goosefish larvae (overall and monthly) from the NEFSC MARMAP

ichthyoplankton surveys, 1977-1987 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

Jan., March to November; 1977 to 1987

Goosefish

Number of Tows = 10149, with larvae = 446

1 to < 10

Number of Larvae / 10m2

10 to 46

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

March, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1031, with larvae = 4

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to 6

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

January, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 434, with larvae = 1

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to 5

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

April, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1281, with larvae = 26

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 46
Page 22

Figure 9. cont’d.

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

May, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1472, with larvae = 68

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 41

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

June, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 893, with larvae = 97

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 30

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

July, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 938, with larvae = 147

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 36

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

August, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1148, with larvae = 60

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 15
Page 23

Figure 9. cont’d.

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

September, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 774, with larvae = 28

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 23

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

October, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1147, with larvae = 9

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 18

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

November, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1031, with larvae = 6

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to 6
Page 24

Figure 10. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult goosefish collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys

during all seasons, 1963-1997. Densities are represented by dot size in spring and fall plots, while only presence and

absence are represented in winter and summer plots [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Number/Tow

 1 to 5

 5 to 10

 10 to 25

 25 to 50

 50 to 147

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 96

Juveniles (<43cm)

Goosefish

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Winter 1964 - 97

Juveniles (<43cm)

 = Absent

 = Present

Goosefish

Number/Tow

 1 to 2

 2 to 4

 4 to 8

 8 to 10

 10 to 26

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1968 - 97

Juveniles (<43cm)

Goosefish

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Summer 1963 - 95

Juveniles (<43cm)

= Absent

 = Present

Goosefish
Page 25

Figure 10. cont’d.

Number/Tow

 1 to <3

 3 to <5

 5 to <10

 10 to <15

 15 to <20

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 96

Adults (>=43cm)

Goosefish

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Winter 1964 - 97

Adults (>=43cm)

 = Absent

 = Present

Goosefish

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <4

 4 to <8

 8 to <10

 10 to <21

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1968 - 97

Adults (>=43cm)

Goosefish

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Summer 1963 - 95

Adults (>=43cm)

= Absent

 = Present

Goosefish
Page 26

Figure 11. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult goosefish collected during spring and autumn

Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys, 1978-1996 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

Goosefish

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Autumn 1978 - 1996

 Juveniles (<43cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to <5

 5 to <10

 10 to <15

 15 to <25

 25 to <40

Goosefish

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Spring 1978 - 1996

 Juveniles (<43cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <3

 3 to <4

 4 to <5

 5 to <6

Goosefish

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Spring 1978 - 1996

 Adults (>=43cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <3

 3 to <4

Goosefish

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Autumn 1978 - 1996

 Adults (>=43cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to <3

 3 to <5

 5 to <7

 7 to <9

 9 to <11
Page 27

Figure 12a. Distribution and abundance of juvenile goosefish collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island bottom

trawl surveys, 1990-1996. The numbers shown at each station are the average catch per tow rounded to one decimal

place [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

1.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.5

0.0 0.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.0 0.2

0.4

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0 0.0

Spring

Summer Autumn

Winter

Goosefish Juveniles (< 43 cm)
Page 28

Figure 12b. Distribution and abundance of adult goosefish collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island bottom

trawl surveys, 1990-1996. The numbers shown at each station are the average catch per tow rounded to one decimal

place [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.4

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.0 0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

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0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

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0.0 0.0

Spring

Summer Autumn

Winter

Goosefish Adults (> 43 cm)
Page 29

Figure 12c. Size distribution of juvenile and adult goosefish collected in Narragansett Bay during Rhode Island bottom

trawl surveys, 1990-1996.

0

1

2

3

0

1

2

0

1

0

1

Total Length (cm)

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn
Page 30

Figure 13. Commercial landings and survey indices of goosefish (from the NEFSC bottom trawl surveys) in the Gulf of

Maine and Middle Atlantic.

Gulf of Maine and Middle Atlantic

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Landings (mt x 1000)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Stratified mean catch/tow (kg)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Commercial landings (mt)

Autumn survey index (kg)

Smoothed survey index (kg)
Page 31

Figure 14. Distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult goosefish during periods of high (1977-1981) and low

(1992-1996) population abundance (see also Fig. 13), from NEFSC spring bottom trawl surveys.

Number/Tow

 1 to 2

 2 to 3

 3 to 4

 4 to 5

 5 to 7

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1977 - 81

Juveniles (<43cm)

High Abundance

Goosefish

Number/Tow

 1 to 2

 2 to 3

 3 to 4

 4 to 5

 5 to 7

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1992 - 96

Juveniles (<43cm)

Low Abundance

Goosefish

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <4

 4 to <6

 6 to <8

 8 to <11

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1977 - 81

Adults (>=43cm)

High Abundance

Goosefish

Number/Tow

 1 to <2

 2 to <4

 4 to <6

 6 to <8

 8 to <11

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1992 - 96

Adults (>=43cm)

Low Abundance

Goosefish

NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Dr. Michael P. Sissenwine, Science & Research Director

CAPT John T. Moakley, Operations, Management & Information Services Staff Chief

Teri L. Frady, Research Communications Unit Chief

Jon A. Gibson, Biological Sciences Editor & Laura S. Garner, Editorial Assistant

Publishing in NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE

Manuscript Qualification

This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). For

all issues, the series employs thorough internal scientific review,

but not necessarily external scientific review. For most issues,

the series employs rigorous technical and copy editing. Manuscripts that may warrant a primary level of scientific publishing

should be initially submitted to one of NMFSs primary series

(i.e., Fishery Bulletin, NOAA Technical Report NMFS, or Marine Fisheries Review).

Identical, or fundamentally identical, manuscripts should

not be concurrently submitted to this and any other publication

series. Manuscripts which have been rejected by any primary

series strictly because of geographic or temporal limitations may

be submitted to this series.

Manuscripts by Northeast Fisheries Science Center

(NEFSC) authors will be published in this series upon approval

by the NEFSC's Deputy Science & Research Director. Manuscripts by non-NEFSC authors may be published in this series if:

1) the manuscript serves the NEFSCs mission; 2) the manuscript meets the Deputy Science & Research Directors approval; and 3) the author arranges for the printing and binding

funds to be transferred to the NEFSCs Research Communications Unit account from another federal account. For all manuscripts submitted by non-NEFSC authors and published in this

series, the NEFSC will disavow all responsibility for the manuscripts contents; authors must accept such responsibility.

The ethics of scientific research and scientific publishing

are a serious matter. All manuscripts submitted to this series are

expected to adhere -- at a minimum -- to the ethical guidelines

contained in Chapter 1 (Ethical Conduct in Authorship and

Publication) of the CBE Style Manual, fifth edition (Chicago,

IL: Council of Biology Editors). Copies of the manual are

available at virtually all scientific libraries.

Manuscript Preparation

Organization: Manuscripts must have an abstract, table of

contents, and -- if applicable -- lists of tables, figures, and

acronyms. As much as possible, use traditional scientific manuscript organization for sections: Introduction, Study Area,

Methods & Materials, Results, Discussion and/or Conclusions, Acknowledgments, and References Cited.

Style: All NEFSC publication and report series are obligated to conform to the style contained in the most recent edition

of the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual.

That style manual is silent on many aspects of scientific manuscripts. NEFSC publication and report series rely more on the

CBE Style Manual, fifth edition.

For in-text citations, use the name-date system. A special

effort should be made to ensure that the list of cited works

contains all necessary bibliographic information. For abbreviating serial titles in such lists, use the most recent edition of the

Serial Sources for the BIOSIS Previews Database (Philadelphia,

PA: Biosciences Information Service). Personal communications must include date of contact and full name and mailing

address of source.

For spelling of scientific and common names of fishes,

mollusks, and decapod crustaceans from the United States and

Canada, use Special Publications No. 20 (fishes), 26 (mollusks),

and 17 (decapod crustaceans) of the American Fisheries Society

(Bethesda, MD). For spelling of scientific and common names

of marine mammals, use Special Publication No. 4 of the

Society for Marine Mammalogy (Lawrence, KS). For spelling in

general, use the most recent edition of Websters Third New

International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged

(Springfield, MA: G.&C. Merriam).

Typing text, tables, and figure captions: Text, including

tables and figure captions, must be converted to, or able to be

coverted to, WordPerfect. In general, keep text simple (e.g.,

dont switch fonts, dont use hard returns within paragraphs,

dont indent except to begin paragraphs). Especially, dont use

WordPerfect graphics for embedding tables and figures in text.

If the automatic footnoting function is used, also save a list of

footnotes as a separate WordPerfect file. When the final draft is

ready for review, save the text, tables, figure captions, footnotes,

and front matter as separate document files.

Tables should be prepared using all tabs or all spaces

between columnar data, but not a combination of the two.

Figures must be original (even if oversized) and on paper; they

cannot be photocopies (e.g., Xerox) unless that is all that is

available, nor be on disk. Except under extraordinary circumstances, color will not be used in illustrations.

Manuscript Submission

Authors must submit one paper copy of the double-spaced

manuscript, one magnetic copy on a disk, and original figures (if

applicable). NEFSC authors must include a completely signedoff NEFSC Manuscript/Abstract/Webpage Review Form.

Non-NEFSC authors who are not federal employees will be

required to sign a Release of Copyright form.

Send all materials and address all correspondence to:

Jon A. Gibson, Biological Sciences Editor

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service

166 Water Street

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026 USA
Research Communications Unit

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

166 Water St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE -- This series is issued irregularly. The series includes: data reports of longterm or large area studies; synthesis reports for major resources or habitats; annual reports of assessment or monitoring programs;

documentary reports of oceanographic conditions or phenomena; manuals describing field and lab techniques; literature surveys of major

resource or habitat topics; findings of task forces or working groups; summary reports of scientific or technical workshops; and indexed

and/or annotated bibliographies. All issues receive internal scientific review and most issues receive technical and copy editing. Limited

free copies are available from authors or the NEFSC. Issues are also available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285

Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161.

Fishermen's Report and The Shark Tagger -- The Fishermen's Report (FR) is a quick-turnaround report on the

distribution and relative abundance of commercial fisheries resources as derived from each of the NEFSC's periodic research vessel

surveys of the Northeast's continental shelf. There is no scientific review, nor any technical or copy editing, of the FR; copies are available

through free subscription. The Shark Tagger (TST) is an annual summary of tagging and recapture data on large pelagic sharks as derived

from the NMFS's Cooperative Shark Tagging Program; it also presents information on the biology (movement, growth, reproduction, etc.)

of these sharks as subsequently derived from the tagging and recapture data. There is internal scientific review, but no technical or copy

editing, of the TST; copies are available only to participants in the tagging program.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document -- This series is issued irregularly. The series

includes: data reports on field and lab observations or experiments; progress reports on continuing experiments, monitoring, and

assessments; background papers for scientific or technical workshops; and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review

but no technical or copy editing. No subscriptions. Free distribution of single copies.

The mission of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is "stewardship of living marine resources for the

benefit of the nation through their science-based conservation and management and promotion of the health of their

environment." As the research arm of the NMFS's Northeast Region, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

supports the NMFS mission by "planning, developing, and managing multidisciplinary programs of basic and applied

research to: 1) better understand the living marine resources (including marine mammals) of the Northwest Atlantic, and

the environmental quality essential for their existence and continued productivity; and 2) describe and provide to

management, industry, and the public, options for the utilization and conservation of living marine resources and

maintenance of environmental quality which are consistent with national and regional goals and needs, and with

international commitments." Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in primary scientific media (e.g.,

anonymously-peer-reviewed scientific journals). However, to assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to

its constituents, the NEFSC occasionally releases its results in its own media. Those media are in three categories:

Publications and Reports

of the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

To obtain a copy of a technical memorandum or a reference document, or to subscribe to the fishermen's report,

write: Research Communications Unit, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA

02543-1026. An annual list of NEFSC publications and reports is available upon request at the above address.

Any use of trade names in any NEFSC publication or report does not imply endorsement.

STANDARD

 MAIL A