NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-128

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus,

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:

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

Luca M. Cargnelli, Sara J. Griesbach, Peter L. Berrien,

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-128
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 ..............................................................................................................................................................................2

Geographical Distribution.........................................................................................................................................................................3

Status of the Stocks ...................................................................................................................................................................................5

Research Needs .........................................................................................................................................................................................5

Acknowledgments.....................................................................................................................................................................................6

References Cited .......................................................................................................................................................................................6

Tables

Table 1. Size and age at maturity of haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus.............................................................................................9

Table 2. Summary of life history and habitat parameters for haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus.....................................................10

Figures

Figure 1. The haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (from Goode 1884) ............................................................................................13

Figure 2. Abundance of the major prey items of haddock collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys ..........................................14

Figure 3. Distribution of surficial sediments along the northeast coast of the United States................................................................15

Figure 4. Distribution and abundance of haddock from Newfoundland to Cape Hatteras during 1975-1994......................................16

Figure 5. Distribution of haddock eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP offshore ichthyoplankton surveys ................................17

Figure 6. Abundance of haddock eggs relative to water column temperature and depth based on NEFSC MARMAP surveys ..........20

Figure 7. Distribution of haddock larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP offshore ichthyoplankton surveys..............................21

Figure 8. Abundance of haddock larvae relative to water column temperature and depth based on NEFSC MARMAP surveys........24

Figure 9. Distribution of juvenile and adult haddock collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys .................................................25

Figure 10. Abundance of juvenile and adult haddock relative to bottom water temperature and depth based on NEFSC surveys ........27

Figure 11. Distribution of juvenile and adult haddock collected in Massachusetts coastal waters.........................................................28

Figure 12. Abundance of juvenile and adult haddock relative to water temperature and depth based on Massachusetts surveys..........29

Figure 13. Commercial landings, survey indices and spawning stock biomass of haddock ...................................................................30

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

INTRODUCTION

The haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, is a

demersal gadoid species found on both sides of the North

Atlantic (Figure 1). In the western Atlantic, haddock are

distributed from Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North

Carolina. Five haddock stocks have been identified in the

northwest Atlantic from Newfoundland to Georges Bank

(Cushing 1986). Haddock are managed under the New

England Fishery Management Council’s Northeast

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (NEFMC 1993),

which recognizes two principal haddock stocks, Georges

Bank and the Gulf of Maine, partially or wholly in U.S.

waters. There is evidence, however, that larvae from

Browns Bank, which is in Canadian waters, drift inshore

as far south as Cape Cod (Colton and Temple 1961) and

spend at least a portion of their lives in U.S. coastal

waters.

This Essential Fish Habitat Source Document

provides information on the life history and habitat

requirements of the three haddock stocks inhabiting U.S.

waters in the Gulf of Maine area: (1) Gulf of Maine, (2)

Georges Bank, and (3) Browns Bank.

LIFE HISTORY

A brief synopsis of the life history characteristics of

haddock is provided in Amendment 5 to the Northeast

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (NEFMC 1993).

More detailed information is provided here and in reviews

by Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Blacker (1971), Hardy

(1978), Chenoweth et al. (1986), and Collette and KleinMacPhee (in prep.).

EGGS

Haddock spawn over pebble gravel substrate,

avoiding ledges, rocks, kelp and soft mud (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953). The eggs are spawned at the bottom but

become buoyant after fertilization, rising into the water

column where subsequent development occurs (Hardy

1978; Page et al. 1989). Depending on water

temperature, eggs hatch in 9-32 days after spawning

(Laurence and Rogers 1976; Hardy 1978).

LARVAE

Larvae range in size from 2.0-4.99 mm in length. Size

varies geographically, and the mean for Georges BankGulf of Maine fish is 4.08 mm (Collette and KleinMacPhee, in prep.).

JUVENILES

Larvae metamorphose into juveniles in 30-42 days

(Laurence 1978) and at a length of 2-3 cm (Fahay 1983).

Juveniles initially remain in the upper part of the water

column, but at 3-5 months and 3-10 cm [or 3-4 cm (Hardy

1978), 4-6 cm (Lough and Bolz 1989), 6-8 cm (Fahay

1983), 7-8 cm (Perry and Neilson 1988), 9-10 cm (Mahon

and Neilson 1987)] they descend toward the bottom and

adopt a demersal lifestyle (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953).

ADULTS

Adult haddock can reach sizes exceeding 110 cm and

16 kg, although commercially caught haddock average

35.5-58.5 cm and 0.5-2 kg. The maximum age

documented from Northeast Fisheries Science Center

(NEFSC) surveys from 1970-1988 is 14 years (Penttila et

al. 1989), but ages greater than 9 years are uncommon.

REPRODUCTION

Size and age at first maturity vary considerably

among haddock stocks (Table 1), although several trends

are obvious. First, females mature at a larger size and

older age than males, and second, Georges Bank haddock

mature at a much smaller size and younger age than

haddock from Browns Bank and the Gulf of Maine (also

see Clark 1959). There is evidence that the age and size

at maturity of Georges Bank haddock have declined in

recent years (O’Brien et al. 1993; Trippel et al. 1997). For

example, the median length of maturity during 1977 to

1983 was 37 cm for males and 40 cm for females,

compared to 26.8 cm and 29.7 cm in recent years

(O’Brien et al. 1993). Since age and size at maturity in

haddock have been shown to be density-dependent

(Waiwood and Buzeta 1989; Ross and Nelson 1992),

declines in the abundance of the Georges Bank stock (see

Status of Stocks below) may explain these declines in age

and size at maturity.

Georges Bank and Browns Bank are the principal

spawning areas in the Gulf of Maine area. Generally, the

greatest production is from Georges Bank. Limited

spawning also occurs on Nantucket Shoals (Smith and

Morse 1985) and along the South Channel and the New

England coast (Colton and Temple 1961). Jeffreys Ledge

and Stellwagen Bank are two major spawning sites along

the coast of New England (Colton 1972). Ames (1997)

reports many small, relatively isolated spawning areas in

inshore Gulf of Maine waters. Based on interviews with

retired commercial fishers from Maine and New

Hampshire, 100 haddock spawning sites were identified,

covering a total of 499 square miles, from Ipswich Bay to

Grand Manan Channel. It is unclear which of these
Page 2

spawning areas are historical versus current.

The timing of spawning varies among sites; the

general pattern is for spawning to occur later as one

moves north (Page and Frank 1989). Presumably, this is

due to decreasing water temperatures with increasing

latitude. There is considerable inter-annual variation in

spawning time within sites. On Georges Bank, spawning

occurs from January to June (Smith and Morse 1985),

usually peaking in late-March to early-April (Smith and

Morse 1985; Lough and Bolz 1989; Page and Frank 1989;

Brander and Hurley 1992). On Browns Bank, spawning

occurs from early March to June (Campana 1989), usually

peaking in late-April to early-May (Page and Frank 1989).

In the Gulf of Maine, spawning occurs from early

February to May, usually peaking in February to April

(Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). The inter-annual

variation in the onset and peak of spawning can be

explained, at least in part, by environmental conditions,

more specifically the severity (in terms of temperature and

duration) of the preceding autumn and winter (Smith et al.

1981).

FOOD HABITS

Haddock initially inhabit the upper reaches of the

water column, feeding on pelagic prey (zooplankton).

Larvae and early stage (pelagic) juveniles are passive

foragers on less motile prey such as invertebrate eggs,

copepods and phytoplankton (Kane 1984). Juveniles

undergo a transformation at age 3 to 5 months, after which

they are closely associated with the bottom and feed on

benthic prey. Juveniles show a distinct transition from

planktonic to benthic feeding (Mahon and Neilson 1987).

Planktonic prey such as copepods and pteropods decrease

in importance after juveniles become demersal, while

ophiuroids and polychaetes increase in importance.

Amphipods remain relatively important through the first

year, but there is a shift from planktonic to benthic

species. Benthic juveniles and adults are indiscriminant

consumers of invertebrates, feeding primarily on

crustaceans, polychaetes, mollusks, echinoderms and

some fish (Bowman and Michaels 1984; Mahon and

Neilson 1987; Collette and Klein-MacPhee, in prep.).

The 1973-1990 Northeast Fisheries Science Center

(NEFSC) bottom trawl survey data on food habits [see

Reid et al. (1999) for details] for juveniles and adults

combined (1973-1980: 8-87 cm; 1981-1990: 10-88 cm)

reveal that crustaceans, echinoderms, polychaetes and

mollusks are the most important prey items of haddock

(Figure 2). Crustaceans make up the major part of the diet

of juveniles; amphipods are the most abundant crustacean,

followed by decapods, euphausiids, and mysids.

However, crustaceans are less important (although still the

most common prey type) in the adult diet, while

echinoderms (particularly Ophiuroidea, Ophiopholis

aculeata, and Ophiura sarsi) and polychaetes increase in

importance. This trend is evident during both sampling

periods. Mollusks are less abundant in the haddock diet,

but are present in all size classes, as are low numbers of

fish

LARVAL RETENTION

A factor that may be critical to the survival of the egg

and larval stages, and thus to the determination of

haddock year-class strength, is the degree of larval

retention on or near the spawning grounds. For example,

there is a southerly flow of surface water from the area of

haddock spawning on Georges Bank. Colton and Temple

(1961) concluded that eggs and larvae in the surface

layers would therefore be carried either into the slope

water zone or the coastal waters southwest of the Bank.

Any larvae drifting into the slope water zone would be

carried in a northeasterly direction away from Georges

Bank and the continental shelf and would be lost to the

fishery. Thus, strong year-classes may arise in years when

circulation results in retention of larvae on the Bank

(Smith and Morse 1985) or in nursery grounds to the

southwest of the Bank (Colton and Temple 1961;

Polacheck et al. 1992). Lough and Bolz (1989) found that

the southerly drift of larvae may be slowed, and retention

on the shoals of Georges Bank enhanced, by larvae

residing nearer to the bottom in waters shallower than 70

m. Ames (1997) suggests that eggs and larvae in the

coastal Gulf of Maine are retained over critical habitat by

tidal currents, and that this serves to enhance survival.

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS

Detailed information on the life history and habitat

characteristics of haddock is summarized in Table 2. This

information is limited to stocks inhabiting U.S. waters

(including Browns Bank, see Introduction); information

from other stocks, e.g., Canadian and European, was not

considered.

EGGS AND LARVAE

The egg and larval stages occur in the water column

at depths of 10-50 m below the surface (Marak 1960;

Colton and Temple 1961; Miller et al. 1963; Hardy 1978).

Temperatures of 4-10o

C (Laurence and Rogers 1976;

Laurence 1978) and high salinities, 34-36 ppt (Laurence

and Rogers 1976), are preferred.

Most of the haddock eggs taken during Marine

Resources Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction

(MARMAP) surveys (see Geographical Distribution

below) were at temperatures of 4-10o

C and depths of 50-
Page 3

130 m. Most larvae were taken at 4-14o

C and 30-90 m.

JUVENILES AND ADULTS

After transformation, haddock are almost exclusively

a groundfish, closely associated with pebble gravel bottom

(Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Lough et al. 1989).

Benthic juveniles and adults are generally found at depths

of 40-150 m (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Murawski and

Finn 1988; Perry and Neilson 1988); 50-100 m is the

preferred depth range (Scott 1982; Waiwood and Buzeta

1989) However, they but can be found as shallow as 10 m

(Blacker 1971) and as deep as 200+ m (Colton 1972;

Hardy 1978), although few are found deeper than 183 m

(Bigelow and Schroeder 1953).

Juveniles are most abundant at temperatures of 4.5-

10o

C (Murawski and Finn 1988). Adults are found at

temperatures of 0-13o

C (Hardy 1978), but are most

common at 2-9o

C (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Colton

1972; Waiwood and Buzeta 1989), and salinities of 31-35

ppt, although 32 ppt is optimal (Bigelow and Schroeder

1953; Scott 1982; Waiwood and Buzeta 1989).

Most of the juvenile haddock taken during NEFSC

trawl surveys (see Geographical Distribution below) were

at temperatures of 4-12o

C (4-9oC in spring and 7-12oC in

autumn) and depths of 25-125 m. Most adults were taken

at 4-12o

C (4-8oC in spring and 7-12oC in autumn) and 50-

100 m. Most juveniles taken during Massachusetts trawl

surveys (see Geographical Distribution below) were at 5-

10o

C (5-8oC in spring and 8-10oC in autumn) and 30-50

m. Most adults were taken at 5-12o

C and 25-60 m.

SUBSTRATE

The distribution of substrate sediments in the Gulf of

Maine area is presented in Figure 3. There seems to be

considerable amounts of suitable substrate for haddock

(i.e., gravelly sand and gravel) throughout southwestern

Nova Scotia and in patches on Georges Bank; there is

relatively very little in the Gulf of Maine. Consequently,

haddock are most abundant on Browns and Georges

Banks (see Section 4 below).

The primary haddock spawning sites, the northeast

part of Georges Bank and Browns Bank (Colton and

Temple 1961, Lough and Bolz 1989), are in areas

containing large amount of suitable substrate. There is

relatively little suitable substrate and spawning in the Gulf

of Maine, however, two areas where haddock spawning

has been reported, Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge

(Colton 1972), contain gravelly sand substrate. As well,

all haddock spawning sites identified by Ames (1997)

occurred in areas of gravel or sandy substrate. A more

rigorous analysis overlaying groundfish distribution onto

substrate sediment distribution is currently being

performed.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Haddock in the northwest Atlantic were distributed

from Cape Charles, Virginia to Labrador, Canada during

1975-1994 (Figure 4). Areas of highest abundance

include Georges Bank, the Scotian Shelf (including

Browns Bank), and the southern Grand Bank.

EGGS

The 1978-1987 MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys

[see Reid et al. (1999) for details] found eggs from New

Jersey to southwest Nova Scotia (Figure 5). The highest

densities were over southwest Nova Scotia and Georges

Bank, which is expected since Georges and Browns Banks

are the principal haddock spawning areas (Colton and

Temple 1961; Laurence and Rogers 1976; Brander and

Hurley 1992). Eggs were collected from January through

August, with the highest abundance collected in April,

followed by March and May. This corresponds with

observations that peak spawning occurs from March to

May (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Page and Frank 1989;

Brander and Hurley 1992). The highest mean density of

eggs occurred in April (77.3 eggs/10 m2

), followed by

March (21.1 eggs/10 m2

), with high concentrations

spreading to the Gulf of Maine. By July and August,

mean densities had decreased considerably (< 0.1 eggs/10

m2

).

All eggs were collected within a narrow range of

temperatures, 2-10o

C; the vast majority occurred within 4-

10o

C (Figure 6), which is the temperature range at which

egg survival is highest (Hardy 1978). In January, the

highest abundance of eggs was found at 6-7o

C, while in

February, March and April highest abundance was at 4-

6o

C. Colton (1972) and Hardy (1978) have reported that

the optimum spawning temperature for haddock is 2-7o

C.

In May and June the highest abundance of eggs was at 5-

7o

C, and during July and August almost all eggs were

found at 8-10o

C.

Eggs were collected at depths in the water column

ranging from 10-450 m, however the majority were found

at 50-130 m (Figure 6). From January to May the highest

abundance of eggs occurred at depths of 70-90 m, while in

June the majority of eggs were deeper, at 110-150 m. In

July, all eggs were found between 90-110 m, and in

August all eggs were found at 50-70 m.

LARVAE

The 1977-1987 MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys

[see Reid et al. (1999) for details] found larvae from the
Page 4

Delmarva Peninsula to southwest Nova Scotia, and from

inshore waters to the seaward limits of the surveys (Figure

7). Larvae were collected from January through July, with

the highest average mean density occurring in May (8.3

larvae/10 m2

) and April (8.1 larvae/10 m2). High

concentrations of larvae were found off southwest Nova

Scotia and Georges Bank spreading southward. Mean

densities were very low in January and February, and had

declined drastically by July (< 0.1 larvae/10 m2

). These

data concur with previous studies that indicate that

hatching begins in earnest in March and peaks in April

and May (Smith and Morse 1985; Campana 1989).

Larvae were collected within a wider range of

temperatures than eggs, 2-15o

C, with the majority

occurring at 4-14o

C (Figure 8). In January, the majority

of larvae were found at 9-10o

C, during February to April,

most larvae were at 4-7o

C, during May to June at 6-9oC,

and in July the majority of larvae were found at 9-11o

C

and 14o

C.

Larvae were collected at depths in the water column

ranging from 10-325 m, however the majority were found

at 30-90 m (Figure 8). The majority of larvae tend to

inhabit the upper 50 m of the water column (Marak 1960;

Hardy 1978). From January to June, the majority of

larvae were found at 70-90 m, and during July all larvae

were found at 30-90 m, with the highest abundance at 30-

50 m.

JUVENILES AND ADULTS

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Surveys

Catches from the 1963-1997 NEFSC bottom trawl

surveys [see Reid et al. (1999) for details] indicate that

the distribution of juvenile and adult haddock are similar

(Figure 9), although juveniles tend to be distributed

further to the south in summer and autumn. Juveniles and

adults were caught in all seasons from throughout the Gulf

of Maine, Scotian Shelf and Georges Bank. More large

catches were made in autumn than spring, presumably

because adults migrate offshore to winter pre-spawning

aggregations (Halliday and McCraken 1970). The

greatest abundance occurs on Georges and Browns Banks,

followed by the Scotian Shelf off southwest Nova Scotia,

Nantucket Shoals, and Stellwagen Bank. In the spring,

juveniles and adults were most abundant on Georges Bank

and the Scotian Shelf, particularly Browns Bank. Winter

and summer distributions are presented as

presence/absence, thus precluding a discussion of

abundances (Reid et al. 1999).

Haddock were caught at a wide range of temperatures

(3-16o

C; Figure 10). The temperature distributions of

juveniles and adults were similar. There was a definite

seasonal effect on the temperature preferences of both

juveniles and adults, with higher temperatures preferred in

autumn. In spring, juveniles were found at 3-13o

C, with

the majority at 4-9o

C, and the highest abundance at 6oC,

while in autumn, juveniles were found at 4-15o

C, with the

majority at 7-12o

C, and the highest abundance at 9oC. In

spring, adults were found at 3-13o

C, with the highest

abundance at 5-6o

C and the majority at 4-8oC, while in

autumn, adults were found at 4-16o

C, with the highest

abundance at 8o

C and most at 7-12oC. Bigelow and

Schroeder (1953) and Hardy (1978) state that adults are

found between 0-13o

C, and rarely < 2oC.

Haddock were caught at depths ranging from 15-350

m (Figure 10). The depth distributions of adults and

juveniles are very similar, and there is no appreciable

seasonal effect other than a slightly wider range of depths

inhabited in autumn. Overall, the majority of haddock

were caught between 50-100 m, and the greatest

abundance of both life stages during both autumn and

spring was at 75 m. In spring, juveniles were found at 25-

200 m, with the majority at 50-125 m, and at 15-250 m,

with the majority at 25-100 m, during autumn. Adults

were found at 25-225 m with the majority at 50-100 m in

spring, and at 15-350 m with the majority at 50-100 m in

autumn. Adults in the Gulf of Maine have previously been

reported to inhabit depths of 46-137 m (Bigelow and

Schroeder 1953).

Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Surveys

Juveniles were far more abundant in coastal

Massachusetts waters than adults (Figure 11). Juveniles

were more abundant in autumn than spring. In autumn,

juveniles were most abundant directly north and northeast

of Cape Ann and in northeastern Massachusetts Bay.

They were also found in two aggregations off the east

coast of Cape Cod, and in low numbers throughout Cape

Cod Bay. In the spring, juveniles were still most abundant

north of Cape Ann, in northeastern Massachusetts Bay,

and in two aggregations off eastern Cape Cod, but were

no longer widespread in Cape Cod Bay. A fairly large

aggregation was also found northwest of Provincetown,

Cape Cod.

Adults were more abundant in spring than in autumn.

This corresponds to adult migrations with offshore winter

pre-spawning and spawning aggregations (Halliday and

McCraken 1970). In autumn, they were virtually nonexistent from inshore Massachusetts waters; in spring,

adults were most abundant in northeast Massachusetts

Bay, and were also found northeast of Cape Ann.

Juveniles and adults were found at temperatures

ranging from 4-14o

C (Figure 12) and were found at

warmer temperatures in autumn than spring. Juveniles

were most abundant at 5-8o

C in spring and 8-10oC in

autumn. Adults were most abundant at 5-9o

C in spring,

and the few found in autumn were at 11-12o

C. Juveniles

and adults were found at depths of 15-80 m (Figure 12).
Page 5

Juveniles were most abundant at 35-50 m in spring and

30-45 m in autumn. Adults were most abundant at 25-50

m in spring, and the few found in autumn were at 50-60

m.

OFFSHORE VS. INSHORE

No inshore distribution data are available for eggs

and larvae, but the NOAA Estuarine Living Marine

Resources (ELMR) program lists haddock eggs and larvae

as ‘not present’ in the majority of bays and estuaries in

New England and the Mid-Atlantic Bight. In the few

inshore areas where they have been reported (Great Bay,

Massachusetts Bay, Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay,

Narragansett Bay), they are listed as ‘rare’ (Jury et al.

1994; Stone et al. 1994).

Juveniles were more abundant inshore in autumn than

spring. They occurred in shallower water and at lower

temperatures inshore than offshore. Adults were far more

abundant offshore than inshore. They were more

abundant inshore in spring than autumn, and conversely,

more abundant offshore in autumn than spring. This most

likely reflects the offshore migration to pre-spawning and

spawning aggregations (Halliday and McCraken 1970).

They occurred at warmer temperatures and shallower

depths inshore than offshore.

STATUS OF THE STOCKS

The total landings (U.S. and Canada) in 1996 from

the Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine haddock stocks were

4226 metric tons (mt), 71% higher than 1995, 54% higher

than 1994, but 8% lower than 1993 and 34% lower than

1992 (Mayo 1995; Brown 1998).

In the Gulf of Maine, commercial landings declined

from a high of about 5000 mt in the mid-1960s to less

than 1000 mt in 1973 (Figure 13). Total annual landings

increased sharply between 1974 and 1980 and averaged

7000 mt from 1980 to 1983. Since 1983, catches have

declined to record lows. The NEFSC autumn survey

biomass index has declined steadily since 1978 and

reached a record low of 0.09 in 1992 (less than 1% of the

peak 1963 survey). Abundance remains at an all time low

and recruitment has been insufficient to support landings,

resulting in recruitment overfishing and continued stock

depletion (Mayo 1995).

On Georges Bank, total commercial landings

increased from about 50,000 mt annually prior to 1965 to

nearly triple that in 1965 and 1966 (Figure 13). Landings

declined through 1976, but catches increased between

1977 and 1980 reaching 28000 mt. Catches declined after

1980 to 4500 mt in 1989 and since 1989 catches have

ranged between 2300 and 6900 mt (Northeast Fisheries

Science Center 1997). The NEFSC spring and autumn

bottom trawl surveys indicate that the biomass has

declined markedly since the late 1970s (Mayo 1995). The

1995 and 1996 autumn survey indices are higher than

recent years, but are still extremely low relative to historic

levels (Figure 13; Brown 1998). The stock remains in a

state of collapse: total stock size declined from 133

million in 1979 to 14 million in 1991 (Mayo 1995). Total

stock has increased somewhat in 1995 and 1996 (Figure

13). Spawning stock biomass reached a record low of

11,000 mt in 1993, but has since rebounded to over

32,000 mt in 1996 (Northeast Fisheries Science Center

1997). This is a sharp increase, but is still far below

historical average levels.

The September 1997 ‘Status of Fisheries of the

United States’ (National Marine Fisheries Service 1997)

reports that the Georges Bank haddock stock is presently

not being overfished, nor is it approaching an overfished

condition. However, the 24th Stock Assessment

Workshop concludes that the Georges Bank stock is at a

low biomass level and is in an over-exploited state

(Northeast Fisheries Science Center 1997). The status of

the Gulf of Maine stock is listed as unknown (National

Marine Fisheries Service 1997).

Data from the NEFSC bottom trawl surveys is

presented in Figure 14 to contrast the distribution of

haddock from recent periods of low abundance (1992-

1996) with periods of high abundance (1963-1967). The

pattern is similar for juveniles and adults, with the

exception that juveniles are distributed further south in

years of low abundance, while adults were not. In years

of low abundance, juveniles and adults were rare on

Georges Bank (the apparent absence of haddock on

Browns Bank during this period is due to the absence of

sampling effort in this area after 1987). In years of high

abundance, they were far more abundant on Georges

Bank, Nantucket Shoals, and Stellwagen Bank.

RESEARCH NEEDS

The biology of northwest Atlantic haddock is quite

well-known, as evidenced by the completeness of the

habitat matrix presented in this report (Table 2).

However, there is a need for more detailed information in

certain areas:

• More information on the genetic structure of haddock

stocks is needed. The present stock definitions are

based on tagging studies, meristic data, age

composition, and growth data (Northeast Fisheries

Science Center 1997). Few studies of genetic

structure currently exist. Purcell et al. (1996)

identified significant temporal variation in gene

frequencies on Georges Bank, and suggested that

spawning on the Bank may not be genetically

discrete. However, Zwanenburg et al. (1992) found

that gene flow among spawning aggregations on five
Page 6

banks in the northwestern Atlantic, including Georges

Bank, was restricted and that deep channels can be

significant barriers to gene flow. They recommend

that additional sampling effort is needed to provide a

clearer understanding of haddock population

structure.

• A better understanding of the factors affecting

recruitment and year-class strength is also needed.

Research into obvious factors such as the effects of

water temperatures, food levels, and predation on the

survival of the early life stages is needed. Also, the

role of other factors such as hydrographic effects

(e.g., tidal and non-tidal currents) which affect the

retention and transport of eggs and larvae, should be

investigated more thoroughly.

• Interactions with other closely related species (e.g.,

cod) are probably important, and need to be better

understood.

• Detailed information on spawning is needed; our

literature search uncovered very few spawning

details, other than the fact that spawning occurs at the

bottom over gravel substrate.

• Information on growth and survival rates by habitat

type (i.e., Level 4 EFH information) is needed to

accurately designate Essential Fish Habitat for

haddock.

The October 1997 report of the 24th Stock Assessment

Workshop (Northeast Fisheries Science Center 1997) lists

research recommendations for improving haddock stock

assessments:

• Improve biological sampling of commercial landings

and discards.

• Examine effects of large tows on overall and agespecific abundance indices for haddock, specifically

with reference to closed areas.

• Examine effects of abrupt changes in mean

weight at age during the 1990s, specifically with

respect to the 1989-1991 year-classes in the eastern

part of Georges Bank.

• Investigate factors associated with apparent recent

improvements in survival rations (R/SSB).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The literature review was greatly aided by the draft

update to the Bigelow and Schroeder (1953) section on

haddock provided by Bruce Collette. Joseph Vitaliano

provided gut contents data from the food habits database.

Russell Brown provided excellent comments which

improved this document.

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in relation to sediment type and bottom currents on

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Page 9

Table 1. Size and age at maturity of haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus.

Stock Time A50 (years) L50 (cm) Reference

Period male female Male female

Georges Bank 1985-1989 1.3 1.5 26.8 29.7 O’Brien et al. 1993

1986-1989 1.1-1.9 1.8-2.6 24-34 33-41 Trippel et al. 1997

1989-1995 1.1-1.4 1.6-2.0 23-30 34-36 Trippel et al. 1997

Browns Bank 1970-1985 - - 36.4 42.6 Waiwood and Buzeta 1989

1979-1985 2.8-3.3 2.8-3.6 33-35 34-38 Trippel et al. 1997

Gulf of Maine 1985-1989 2.1 1.8 35.0 34.5 O’Brien et al. 1993
Page 10

Table 2. Summary of life history and habitat parameters for haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus. Information that

could not be distinguished as either juvenile or adult is listed under ‘Juveniles/Adults’.

Life Stage Size and Growth Habitat Substrate Temperature

Eggs 1

Mean size at hatch is 3.33

mm. Largest size at hatch

occurs at approximately 8o

C;

decrease in size at lower and

higher temperatures.

Early stage eggs concentrated near

the surface; later stages are

distributed more uniformly over

depth or have a sub-surface

maximum. One study shows that

stage I, II and III eggs were within

the top 20 m, while the center of

mass of stage IV eggs was 31 m.

Eggs are spawned over pebble

gravel bottom. After spawning,

eggs become buoyant, rise and

float near the surface where

subsequent development occurs.

Peak spawning occurs when

mean surface temperature is 2-

10oC. Incubation duration varies

with temperature: 20-32 days at

2o

C, 11-23 days at 4oC, 11-17

days at 6o

C, 9-13 days at 8oC,

and 6-8 days at 11oC. Highest

survival rate occurs at 4-10oC

(mean 6o

C).

Larvae 2

Size at hatch ranges from 2 - 5

mm (mean = 4 mm).

Generally pelagic. Maximum

depth approximately 150 m.

Majority found at depths of

10-50 m.

Upper lethal = 10oC; lower

lethal = 4o

C.

Time to metamorphosis:

at 9o

C = 30 days after hatching;

at 4o

C = 36-42 days.

Growth rates: at 4oC = 3.68

%/day, at 7o

C = 5.53, at 9oC =

13.36.

On Georges Bank, hatching

occurs in 2-3 weeks at normal

spring temperatures.

Juveniles 3

Metamorphosis of larvae

occurs at approximately

3 cm .

Small juveniles found near the

surface (10-40 m), more or less

stationary in the open sea. Descent

to bottom (35-100 m) occurs at

age 3-5 months and length 5-10

cm (after metamorphosis).

YOY found in nursery area

between Nantucket Shoals &

Hudson Canyon. Occur on same

grounds as adults.

Pebble gravel bottom. Occur at 4.5-11.0oC. Occur at

colder temperatures in

winter/spring than summer/fall.

Adults 4

Mean size at maturity

(female/male, cm):

Georges Bank: 29.7/26.8

Gulf of Maine: 34.5/35.0

Browns Bank: 42.5/36.5

Size at maturity positively

density dependent.

Occur throughout the Gulf and

offshore banks; greatest

concentration on Georges Bank.

More exclusively a groundfish

than cod. Generally below 10 m,

most in 40-150 m, few deeper than

200 m.

No extreme migrations, only short

inshore/offshore movements.

Selective as to type of substrate:

chiefly broken ground, gravel,

pebbles, smooth hard sand &

smooth areas between rocky

patches. Avoid ledges, rocks,

kelp or soft mud.

Occur at 0-13oC, but are most

abundant at 2-9o

C and prefer 4-

7o

C; mortality at < 1oC; avoid >

10o

C.

Spawn at 2-7o

C, optimum is 4-

6o

C.

Juveniles/

Adults 5

Average size at age:

1 - 17.5 cm, 2 - 33.8 cm,

3 - 45.5 cm, 4 - 54.0 cm,

5 - 60.1 cm, 6 - 64.5 cm,

7 - 67.6 cm, 8 - 69.9 cm,

9 - 71.5 cm, 10 - 72.7 cm,

11 - 73. 6cm, 12 - 74.2 cm,

13 - 74.6 cm, 14 - 75.0 cm,

15 - 75.2 cm.

1

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Miller et al. (1963), Laurence and Rogers (1976), Hardy (1978), Lough et al. (1989), Page and Frank (1989), Page et al. (1989), Waiwood

 and Buzeta (1989)

2

 Marak (1960), Colton and Temple (1961), Miller et al. (1963), Laurence (1974, 1978), Hardy (1978), Kane (1984), Lough and Bolz (1989) 3

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Colton and Temple (1961), Blacker (1971), Colton (1972), Hardy (1978), Mahon and Neilson (1987), Murawski and Finn (1988), Perry and

 Neilson (1988), Lough and Bolz (1989), Lough et al. (1989) 4

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Marak and Livingstone (1970), Colton (1972), Hardy (1978), Scott (1982), Waiwood and Buzeta (1989), O’Brien et al. (1993) 5

 Penttila et al. (1989)
Page 11

Table 2. cont’d.

Life Stage Salinity Currents Prey

Eggs 1

Highest egg survival occurs at 34-

36 ppt. Egg mortality below 25

ppt; mortality decreases with

increasing salinity (26-36 ppt).

SW flow of water off Georges Bank

results in a southerly flow of eggs and

larvae from the NE spawning center. NW

flow of water off Browns Bank to

western Nova Scotia, New Brunswick

and New England as far south as Cape

Cod.

Larvae 2

Larvae drift with surface currents.

Georges Bank larvae may be swept off

the Bank to the SW (@ 0.65 cm/s),

otherwise are retained; on Browns Bank

some larvae retained due to the Browns

Bank gyre, others dispersed inshore due

to the Nova Scotia coastal current.

Passive foragers on less motile prey: invertebrate

eggs, copepods and phytoplankton. In general,

ate most abundant species but restricted to prey

of a certain size; for example larvae 4-18 mm

fed on larval copepods, > 18 mm fed on adult

copepods. Feeding peaks shortly before sunset.

Larvae may need prey concentrations of 0.5 -

3.0 plankters/ml for suitable growth.

Juveniles 3

Tidal current weaker near bottom, for

example at Georges Bank, current = 1-5

cm/s at 10 cm above bottom, and 7-24

cm/s at 1 m above bottom.

Indiscriminate consumers of invertebrates.

Distinct transition from planktonic to benthic

feeding. Planktonic prey declines after

becoming demersal: copepods and pteropods

decreased, while ophiuroids & polychaetes

increased.

Major benthic prey items (proportion of diet by

weight) are crustaceans (56.5%), polychaetes

(15.1%), and fish (1.4%).

Adults 4

Generally found within 31.5 - 35

ppt; Spawn at 31.5 - 34 ppt.

Indiscriminate consumers of sedentary or slow

moving invertebrates: crustaceans, annelids,

polychaetes, mollusks and echinoderms. Fish

make up small part of diet. Heaviest feeding in

June; distinct seasonal changes in diet

composition.

Juveniles/

Adults 5

Omnivorous & highly opportunistic. Prey almost

exclusively on benthic invertebrates. Order of

importance (proportion of diet by weight):

echinoderms, 29.9%; polychaetes, 17.6%;

crustaceans, 16.2%; fish eggs, 14.6%; other

polychaetes, 12.7%.

Prey items by area (Gulf of Maine/ Georges

Bank/Scotian Shelf) (% by weight):

fish-2.2/28.4/3.8

polychaetes-14.7/23.5/11.8

crustacean-15.2/16.0/14.4

mollusks-1.6/3.8/3.0

echinoderms-51.9/7.8/49.0.

1

 Colton and Temple (1961), Laurence and Rogers (1976), Smith and Morse (1985), Page et al. (1989) 2

 Marak (1960), Laurence (1974), Hardy (1978), Kane (1984), Smith and Morse (1985), Campana et al. (1989), Lough and Bolz (1989) 3

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Blacker (1971), Bowman and Michaels (1984), Mahon and Neilson (1987), Perry and Neilson (1988), Lough et al. (1989) 4

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Wigley and Theroux (1965), Tyler (1972), Hardy (1978), Scott (1982), Bowman and Michaels (1984), Waiwood and Buzeta (1989) 5

 Langton and Bowman (1980), Bowman and Michaels (1984)
Page 12

Table 2. cont’d.

Life Stage Predators Spawning Notes

Eggs 1

Preyed upon by a wide range of

pelagic predators.

Georges and Browns Banks are the

principle spawning areas (GB > BB).

Limited spawning along South Channel

and New England coast. Spawning

occurs over all of Georges, but main

spawning center is in NE part of the

bank.

Spawning occurs from January to July;

delay in peak spawning time as one

moves north.

Gulf of Maine: Feb-May, peak varies

Feb-April;

Georges Bank: Jan-June, peak lateMarch-April;

Browns Bank: early March-June, peaks

late April-early May.

Egg duration on Georges Bank varied from 10-

20 days over 34 year period; mean egg duration

during peak spawning was 15.5 days.

Egg duration on Browns Bank varied from 10-30

days over the same 34 years; mean egg duration

during peak spawning was 18.6 days.

Haddock embryos less tolerant of

temperature and salinity extremes than cod

embryos

Larvae 2

Preyed upon by a wide range of

pelagic predators.

Nursery grounds lie (a) between Georges

Bank and Nova Scotia and (b) to the

east of Cape Cod.

Young tend to drift under bells of jellyfish

(Cyanea).

Lab results imply that the first weeks after

hatching are a critical period for larvae.

One study estimated daily mortality rate at 7.1%.

Juveniles 3

0+ and 1+ fish primarily preyed

on by cod, pollock and silver

hake.

1-2 yr old fish particularly abundant on Georges

Bank.

Vertical migrations may depend on diel light

cycle, thermal structure, interspecific

competition, prey availability & tidal current

speed.

Adults 4

Preyed upon by seals. Onset of spawning related to

environmental conditions; earlier in

years with moderate autumn-winter

temperatures than in years with cold

autumn/winter.

Eggs released at intervals over a 3 week

period.

Fecundity ranges from 12,000-

3,000,000 eggs; varies with size; year to

year variation may be correlated with

temp.

Median age at maturity (female/male,

years):

Georges Bank: 1.5/1.3

Gulf of Maine: 1.8/2.1;

evidence that median length at maturity

on Georges Bank has decreased (during

1977-1983 was 40/37).

Move into shallower water in spring & summer;

coincides with the inshore fishery. Offshore

fishery occurs during the winter and early spring.

Distribution influenced more by restrictive

spawning area & bottom type conditions than by

temperature variation.

Juveniles/

Adults 5

Stock abundance clearly influenced growth rates:

higher correlations occurred during time periods

of highest stock abundance than at times when

stocks were depleted. Stock size was

significantly correlated with juvenile growth but

not young adult growth.

1

 Walford (1950), Colton and Temple (1961), Marak and Livingstone (1970), Laurence and Rogers (1976), Hardy (1978), Smith and Morse (1985), Perry and Neilson (1988),

 Campana (1989), Lough and Bolz (1989), Page and Frank (1989) 2

 Laurence (1974), Hardy (1978), Smith et al. (1981), Cushing (1986) 3

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Miller et al. (1963), Blacker (1971), Murawski and Finn (1988), Perry and Neilson (1988) 4

 Bigelow and Schroeder (1953), Colton (1972), Hardy (1978), Smith et al. (1981), O’Brien et al. (1993) 5

 Ross and Nelson (1992)
Page 13

Figure 1. The haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (from Goode 1884).
Page 14

Figure 2. Abundance (% occurrence) of the major prey items of haddock collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys

from 1973-1980 and 1981-1990. Methods for sampling, processing, and analysis of samples differed between the time

periods [see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. (a) 1973-1980, 0-30 cm: n=532, 31-90 cm: n=1356; (b) 1981-1990, 0-30 cm:

n=98, 31-90 cm: n=930. The 0-30 cm size category corresponds, at least roughly, to the juvenile life stage, and the 31-90

cm size class corresponds to adults. The category “animal remains” refers to unidentifiable animal matter.

Crustacea 57.9%

Animal Remains 15.7%

Polychaeta 14.0%

Fish 1.0%

Echinodermata 4.0%

Nematoda 3.2%

Mollusca 1.1%

All Other Prey 3.1%

Nematoda 1.0%

Polychaeta 21.4%

Crustacea 40.1%

Mollusca 7.2%

Echinodermata 14.2%

Fish 0.5%

Animal Remains 12.2%

All Other Prey 3.3%

Crustacea 60.0%

Polychaeta 11.0%

Fish 2.1%

Echinodermata 9.0%

Animal Remains 9.7%

Mollusca 1.4%

All Other Prey 6.9% Polychaeta 15.0%

Crustacea 37.4%

Echinodermata 20.6%

Mollusca 10.9%

Animal Remains 11.0%

Fish 1.8%

All Other Prey 3.2%

b) 1981-1990

0-30 cm 31-90 cm

0-30 cm 31-90 cm

a) 1973-1980
Page 15

Figure 3. Distribution of surficial sediments along the northeast coast of the United States. Data are from the United

States Geological Survey and NOAA.
Page 16

Figure 4. Distribution and abundance of haddock 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 17

Figure 5. Distribution of haddock eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP offshore ichthyoplankton surveys (January

to August, 1978-1987). Egg densities are represented by dot size [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

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

January to August; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 6203, with eggs = 559

Eggs / 10m2

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to <1000

1000 to 8289
Page 18

Figure 5. cont’d.

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

January; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 433, with eggs = 23

Monthly Mean Density = 4.47 eggs/10m2

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 812

Eggs / 10m2

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

February; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 459, with eggs = 24

Monthly Mean Density = 8.98 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to <1000

Eggs / 10m2

1000 to 1105

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

March; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 853, with eggs = 79

Monthly Mean Density = 21.06 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to <1000

Eggs / 10m2

1000 to 8289

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

April; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 1020, with eggs = 278

Monthly Mean Density = 77.32 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to <1000

Eggs / 10m2

1000 to 6435
Page 19

Figure 5. 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

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

May; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 1085, with eggs = 127

Monthly Mean Density = 11.12 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to <1000

Eggs / 10m2

1000 to 2099

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

June; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 709, with eggs = 23

Monthly Mean Density = 1.85 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 248

Eggs / 10m2

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

July; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 781, with eggs = 3

Monthly Mean Density = 0.04 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 14

Eggs / 10m2

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Haddock

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

August; 1978 to 1987

Number of tows = 863, with eggs = 2

Monthly Mean Density = 0.04 eggs/10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 23

Eggs / 10m2
Page 20

Figure 6. Monthly abundance of haddock eggs relative to water column temperature (to a maximum of 200 m) and

bottom depth based on NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, all years combined (January to August, 1978-1987).

Open bars represent the proportion of all stations which were surveyed; solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of

all standardized catches (number/10 m2

).

January

0

10

20

30

60

80

Stations

Egg Catch

April

0

10

20

30

60

70

May

Percent

0

10

20

50

June

0

10

20

50

60

July

0

10

20

30

40

August

Water-Column Temperature (C)

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

0

10

90

100

Haddock Eggs

February

0

10

20

30

40

50

March

0

10

20

70

80

January

0

10

20

60

70

Stations

Egg Catch

April

0

10

20

30

40

Haddock Eggs

May

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

June

0

10

20

30

40

July

0

10

20

30

70

80

August

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

60

70

March

0

10

20

30

60

70

February

0

10

20

40

50
Page 21

Figure 7. Distribution of haddock larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP offshore ichthyoplankton surveys (January

to July, 1977-1987). Larval densities are represented by dot size [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

January to July; 1977 to 1987

Haddock

Number of Tows = 6735, with larvae = 473

Larvae < 21.0 mm

Number of Larvae / 10m2

1 to < 10

10 to < 100

100 to < 1000

1000 to 1017
Page 22

Figure 7. 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

January, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 434, with larvae = 6

2 Number of Larvae / 10m

None

1 to < 10

10 to 26

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

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

February, 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 686, with larvae = 12

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 13

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 = 27

2 Number of Larvae / 10m

None

1 to < 10

10 to < 100

100 to 626

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 = 143

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to < 100

100 to 630
Page 23

Figure 7. 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 = 191

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to < 100

100 to < 1000

1000 to 1017

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 = 87

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to < 100

100 to 256

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 = 7

Number of Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to < 10

10 to 24
Page 24

Figure 8. Monthly abundance of haddock larvae relative to water column temperature (to a maximum of 200 m) and

bottom depth from NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, all years combined (January to July, 1977-1987). 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

30

40

50

60

Stations

Larva Catch

April

Percent

0

10

20

30

60

70

May

0

10

20

30

40

June

0

10

20

30

July

Water-Column Temperature (C)

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

0

10

20

30

40

Haddock Larvae (<21.0 mm length)

March

0

10

20

30

40

February

0

10

20

30

40

January

0

10

20

40

60

Stations

Catch

April

Percent

0

10

20

50

Haddock Larvae (<21.0 mm length)

May

0

10

20

40

50

June

0

10

20

40

July

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

40

March

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

February

0

10

20

60

70
Page 25

Figure 9. Distribution of juvenile and adult haddock collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys, (spring, summer,

autumn and winter, 1963-1997). Densities are represented by dot size in spring and autumn plots, while only presence

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

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <500

 500 to <1000

 1000 to <2578

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 96

Juveniles (<32cm)

Haddock

Number/Tow

 1 to <10

 10 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <200

 200 to <395

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1968 - 97

Juveniles (<32cm)

Haddock

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Summer 1963 - 95

Juveniles (<32cm)

= Absent

 = Present

Haddock

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Winter 1964 - 97

Juveniles (<32cm)

 = Total Tows

 = Positive Tow

Haddock
Page 26

Figure 9. cont’d.

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <500

 500 to <1000

 1000 to <9359

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 96

Adults (>=32cm)

Haddock

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <500

 500 to <1000

 1000 to <1250

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Spring 1968 - 97

Adults (>=32cm)

Haddock

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Summer 1963 - 95

Adults (>=32cm)

= Absent

 = Present

Haddock

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Winter 1964 - 97

Adults (>=32cm)

 = Total Tows

 = Positive Tow

Haddock
Page 27

Figure 10. Abundance of juvenile and adult haddock relative to bottom water temperature and depth based on spring and

autumn NEFSC trawl surveys, all years combined (1963-1997). Open bars represent the proportion of all stations

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

).
Page 28

Figure 11. Distribution of juvenile and adult haddock collected in coastal waters of Massachusetts during Massachusetts

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

Haddock

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Autumn 1978 - 1996

 Juveniles (<32cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to 10

 10 to 50

 50 to 100

 100 to 500

 500 to 604

Haddock

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Spring 1978 - 1996

 Juveniles (<32cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to 5

 5 to 10

 10 to 20

 20 to 40

 40 to 48

Haddock

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Autumn 1978 - 1996

 Adults (>=32cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to 10

 10 to 14

 14 to 14

 14 to 14

 14 to 14

Haddock

Mass. Inshore Trawl Survey

 Spring 1978 - 1996

 Adults (>=32cm)

Number/Tow

 1 to 2

 2 to 3

 3 to 5

 5 to 10

 10 to 11
Page 29

Figure 12. Abundance of juvenile and adult haddock relative to bottom water temperature and depth based on

Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys for all years combined (spring and autumn, 1978-1996). Open bars represent the

proportion of all stations surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all standardized catches

(number/10 m2

).
Page 30

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

Maine, 1963-1996 (top) and commercial landings and spawning stock biomass (from the NEFSC bottom trawl surveys)

of haddock from Georges Bank, 1930-1996 (bottom).

Georges Bank

Year

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Metric tons (x1000)

0

50

100

150

200

250

Commercial landings

Spawning stock biomass

Gulf of Maine

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Metric tons (x1000)

0

2

4

6

8

Stratified mean catch/tow (kg)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Commercial landings (mt)

Autumn survey index (kg)

Smoothed survey index (kg)
Page 31

Figure 14. Distribution of juvenile and adult haddock during years of high abundance (1963-1967) and years of low

abundance (1992-1996) from autumn NEFSC bottom trawl surveys.

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <250

 250 to <500

 500 to <975

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 67

Adults (>=32cm)

High Abundance

Haddock

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <250

 250 to <500

 500 to <975

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1992 - 96

Adults (>=32cm)

Low Abundance

Haddock

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <500

 500 to <1000

 1000 to <1653

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1963 - 67

Juveniles (<32cm)

High Abundance

Haddock

Number/Tow

 1 to <50

 50 to <100

 100 to <500

 500 to <1000

 1000 to <1653

NMFS Trawl Surveys

Autumn 1992 - 96

Juveniles (<32cm)

Low Abundance

Haddock

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