Page iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS é

Introduction }

References :
List of Participants .

1
Review of Age Data Used in Past Assessments of Stock Status 1
Spawning Times and Locations 2
First-year Growth 3
Processing and Aging Methods 3
Conclusions 4
6
7

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Regions from which representative samples of summer flounder scales were examined,
and the agencies/institutions which supplied those samples
Table 2. Mean lengths at age for male and female summer flounder collect
Center spring and autumn bottom trawl surveys during 1975-89

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Age composition of NEFC spring bottom trawl survey samples of summer

flounder during 1975-89 ....

Figure 2, Age composition of NEFC autumn bottom trawl survey samples of summer

flounder during 1975-89 ....

Figure 3. Age composition of offshore commercial fishery samples of summer flounder

during 1982-92 ..

Figure 4. Length-frequency distributions of young-of-the-year summer flounder collected

during 1988-89 sampling in a New Jersey estuary

Figure 5. Scale impression of a 26-cm, age-1 summer flounder collected in May from northern waters
Figure 6. Scale impression of a 31-cm, age-2 summer flounder collected in March from waters

off the New Jersey coast

Figure 7. Scale impression of a 61-cm, age-4 summer flounder collected in May from waters

off the New Jersey coast ..

Figure 8. Scale impression of a 38-cm, age-2 summer flounder collected in May from southern waters

[Figure 6 from Dery (1988)] ....

Mt


Page 4

Table 1. Regions from which representative samples of summer flounder scales were examined, and the agencies/institutions which

supplied those samples
Region Agency/Institution
~ Cape Cod - Cape Hatteras Northeast Fisheries Center

Cape Cod area

Middle Atlantic Bight
Long Island Sound
Virginia

Delaware - Cape Hatteras

North Carolina

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

slide is then placed over the laminate, and the “sandwich”
of slides is rolled through a jeweler’s press. The heavy
acetate slides act as cushions to equalize the pressure over
thin and thick areas of the scales, resulting in a more
uniform impression. The impressing procedure, when
done in a smooth, continuous motion, avoids distortions on
the laminate and provides a clear view of annuli required to
age this species.

Following the review of sample processing techniques,
participants examined representative samples (approxi-
mately 150-200 individuals) from the entire range of the
species’ distribution (Table 1).

Aging criteria for summer flounder provided in Dery
(1988) were accepted by the workshop participants. Major
elements are as follows:

@ = Annuli consist of cutting-over or erosion marks on the
scale. A cutting-over mark must be continuous and
intersect the ctena to be interpreted as a true annulus.
Ctenii only may be used as an area of last resort on
scales that are difficult to age.

@ = Circulus spacing is not used as a criterion for annulus
interpretation.

@ = The first annulus is interpreted as the first continuous
cutting-over mark formed on the scale.

@ For summer flounder in more northerly waters (e.g.,
off Southern New England and New Jersey), the dis-
tance from the focus to the first annulus is relatively
great, reflecting 18 to 21 months of growth from
hatching to formation of the first cutting-over mark
(second spring following hatching) (Figures 5 and 6).
Annulus formation generally occurs in late spring -
early summer in this region.

@ Further south, with a later spawning season, the dis-
tance from the focus to the first annulus is diminished,

Table 2. Mean lengths (cm) at age for male and female summer
flounder collected in Northeast Fisheries Center spring
and autumn bottom trawl surveys during 1975-89

Sex Age
0 1 2 3 4 5
Spring Surveys
Male - 26.4 35.5 43.6 49.8 50.0
Female : 26.5 39.2 46.5 56.4 60.7
Autumn Surveys
Male 26.6 34.8 41.1 47.3 50.7 53.7

Female 26.2 38.2 468 54.1 590 66.6

teflecting 10-16 months of growth (Figures 7 and 8).
In this region, annulus formation may occur as early as
January or February.

Mean lengths at age from samples collected during
NEFC bottom trawl surveys in the spring and autumn,
following the standard convention of a common January 1
birthdate, demonstrate the rapid growth of this species.
Table 2 lists mean lengths at age from combined 1975-89
surveys, showing that females grow faster and attain greater
lengths than males.

CONCLUSIONS

During the plenary session held on the third day of the
workshop, participants agreed on the following general
conclusions:

1. There is consistency in aging techniques and interpre-
tations for summer flounder throughout the coastal


INTRODUCTION

A workshop to review methods and criteria for aging
summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, cosponsored by
the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northeast Fisher-
ies Center’ (NEFC) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisher-
ies Commission was held at the NEFC’s Woods Hole
Laboratory during 11-13 June 1990. Attendees included
representatives of the federal government and of agencies
and/or universities in each of the coastal states from Mas-
sachusetts to North Carolina (see List of Participants). The
workshop consisted of three sessions, with reviews of the
use of age data in past assessments, population biology, and
first-year growth presented during a plenary session on the
first day. The second day was devoted entirely to a review
of sample processing techniques and aging methods, anda
final plenary session was held on the third day to discuss in
detail the results of the previous day’s aging session.

The workshop fulfilled a “special topic” recommenda-
tion by the Ninth NEFC Stock Assessment Workshop
(SAW) (Northeast Fisheries Center 1989). During the
Ninth SAW, members of the Summer Flounder Working
Group indicated that there was confusion concerning aging
interpretations utilized by age readers at the NEFC and in
the Atlantic coastal states, particularly with conventions
agreed upon at the 1980 Summer Flounder Age and Growth
Workshop (Smith et al. 1981). The 1980 workshop was
held after a review of the available literature on summer
flounder age-and-growth parameters indicated that earlier
studies were not in agreement. The Ninth SAW recom-
mended that a second workshop be held to review current
knowledge concerning the growth dynamics of the species
and to confirm that all age readers were interpreting ages
similarly.

There are two major differences between aging meth-
ods currently utilized and those methods reported during
the 1980 workshop. First, scales are exclusively used now,
whereas otoliths were used by most participants prior-to
1980. Second, based on results of recent analyses, the first
distinct annulus measured from the focus is now used to
represent first-year growth. Prior to 1980, there had been
considerable disagreement concerning the interpretation of
the first opaque zone observed on otoliths. During the 1980
workshop, the major conventions agreed upon were: (1)
“the first distinct opaque zone away from the core... [of the
otolith is] . . . formed at age 2,” and (2) the mean length at
age 1 is about 170-180 mm (Smith and Daiber 1977).
Participants at the 1980 workshop also agreed that data
presented by Poole (1961) “represented an atypical[-]fast
growing year class” since his data indicated that mean
length at age 1 was about 251 mm. Recent studies,
however, support Poole’s observations that summer floun-
der exhibit very rapid growth in their first year and reach
mean lengths of 250-320 mm at age 1 (Szedimayer et al.
1992).

Page 1

REVIEW OF AGE DATA USED IN._PAST
STOCK ASSESSMENTS

A review of age data utilized in analyses of the status
of the summer flounder stock north of Cape Hatteras, North
Carolina, was presented to demonstrate the effects on
population dynamics parameters of incorrectly and/or in-
consistently aged fish, and to describe to participants the
chronology of aging interpretations utilized since the early
1980s. There have been four analyses of summer flounder
stock status conducted at the NEFC. During the first
assessment (Fogarty 1981), age data from the commercial
fishery during 1976-79 and from NEFC bottom trawl
surveys during 1976-81 were adjusted downward by one
year (i.e., one year was subtracted from all ages except age
1) in an attempt to conform with the 1980 workshop
convention. Inthe second assessment (Northeast Fisheries
Center 1986), the adjusted 1976-79 commercial fishery
data and adjusted 1976-81 bottom trawl survey data were
again used; in addition, 1982-86 survey data were also
adjusted downward. In the third assessment, presented at
the Ninth SAW in 1989, the adjusted 1976-79 data from
both the commercial fishery and surveys were again used,
but 1980-89 data were unadjusted, having been re-aged
utilizing current information regarding first-annulus loca-
tion. Prior to the fourth analysis, a 1990 assessment update,
all age data utilized in the assessment were re-aged and are
considered to be consistent.

Age-frequency distributions from NEFC spring and
autumn bottom trawl survey data from 1975 to 1989 (Fig-
ures 1 and 2) indicate that individuals older than about age
Shave rarely been encountered by the survey gear. During
the spring surveys, ages 1-2 have dominated the catches,
with ages 3 and older rarely comprising greater than five
percent of the total. Age 1 has generally been the dominant
age in the autumn surveys, however, age 0 has made up a
large proportion of the catch in some years (i.e., 1989).

The age composition of the offshore commercial fish-
ery was made up primarily of age 1-2 individuals (Figure 3)
during 1982-89, with ages 3 and older generally comprising
a small percentage of the total in each year. In 1982 and
1983, however, age 0 individuals made up 12 and 10
percent of the total, respectively. These young individuals,
while often large enough to be included in the commercial
catch, are generally not available to the offshore fleet due
to their estuarine existence during their first year.

The effects of the changes in the age distributions on
growth parameters and calculations of yield per recruit and
instantaneous total mortality (Z) were also presented. The
results of these comparative analyses indicated that there
was little overall difference in the von Bertalanffy growth
parameters (L,, t,, and K) or F_,, values between the three
assessments, but that Z values presented at the Ninth SAW
(Northeast Fisheries Center 1989) were significantly higher
than those estimated in the 1986 assessment (Northeast

* On 28 July 1991, the Northeast Fisheries Center changed its name to Northeast Fisheries Science Center. The former name has been retained
throughout the body of this report, though, since the workshop covered by the report was held prior to the name change.




and larvae during 1965-66 was off the New York-New
Jersey coast; however, Able et al. (1988) indicated that the
center of reproduction during 1980-86 was from New York
to Massachusetts.

Spawning begins in the northern areas (Georges Bank
and Southern New England waters) as early as September,
occurs progressively later further south, and continues as
late as March off Virginia and North Carolina. In the
northern region, peak spawning occurs in October-Novem-
ber. In North Carolina waters, where the season extends
from November to March, peak spawning occurs during the
last part of December (R. Monaghan, pers. comm."). It was
evident from discussions during the workshop that uncer-
tainty remains conceming spawning behavior of summer
flounder, and that additional information defining more
specific areas and timing of spawning for this species is
necessary.

FIRST-YEAR GROWTH

A comprehensive study of first year growth and mor-
tality was recently conducted by Szedimayer et al. (1992),
a summary of which was presented at the workshop. The
objectives of their study were to determine growth and
mortality rates of young-of-the-year summer flounder ina
New Jersey estuary which was assumed to be representa-
tive of the species’ estuarine nursery areas. Extensive
biweekly and monthly sampling was carried out in the
study area with a variety of gear types (e.g., plankton nets,
otter trawls, block nets) from November 1988 to October
1989 to document the growth of a single year class during
their first year of life. For each successive sampling period,
a single length mode was observed that increased in size
over the previous period clearly demonstrating thata single,
fast-growing cohort was being sampled (Figure 4). Initial
samples consisted of metamorphosing larvae that entered
the estuary in the winter and early spring (spawned in late
autumn); individual fish reached lengths of 200-300 mm
total length by the next autumn. None of the larger fish
examined had an annulus on either their scales or otoliths.
The report also indicated that summer flounder grew at a
rate of approximately 2 mm per day during mid-June to
early September, one of the fastest rates for juvenile fish
reported in the literature. These conclusions are corrobo-
rated by data collected during monthly trawl surveys and
tagging studies in the Chesapeake Bay area conducted by
the Virginia Institute of Marine Science during 1986-89,
and by length-frequency data collected during monthly
surveys in the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound region conducted
by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries during
1987-89.

The results of these studies show that summer flounder
inhabiting estuarine areas of the Middle Atlantic states
during their first winter can attain lengths of up to at least
300 mm, in support of Poole’s (1961) conclusions.

> North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Morehead City, NC.

Page 3

30.
Nov—Apr 21-26Jul
n=65 n=21

15.

0 all

30.
18 —27May 2-10Aug
n=7 n=106

14—15Jun 17—25Aug
S n=14 n=125
SS 15:
g A
tL of
30.
28—30Jun 30Aug—8Sep
n=38 n=92
15:
op kh a a
30:
11—14Jul 17—228ep
n=26 n=5S0
15:
pit sald
© 100 200 300 © 100 200 300
Total Length (mm)

Figure 4. Length-frequency distributions of young-of-the-year
summer flounder collected during 1988-89 sampling in
a New Jersey estuary (from Szedimayer et al. 1992).

PROCESSING AND AGING METHODS

During the second day of the workshop, processing
methods were examined in detail. Participants agreed that
sound processing techniques are necessary in order to
provide the age reader with a clear view of annuli and to
enable the reader to distinguish these marks from checks or
false annuli. All of the participants currently utilize scale
impressions when aging summer flounder; the validity of
using this structure was provided in Shepherd (1980). The
technique for preparing scale impressions is as follows
(from Penttila and Dery 1988): after placing several scales,
sculptured side up, on a heavy base slide of 1-mm (0.04-
inch) thick cellulose acetate, a plastic laminated slide, soft
side down, is placed over thescales. A second heavy plastic


Proceedings

of the NEFC/ASMFC Summer

Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus,
Aging Workshop, 11-13 June 1990,
Northeast Fisheries Center

Woods Hole, Mass.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Region
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

January 1992



Page 6

state & federal agencies and universities conducting
tesearch on this species. This consistency may pre-
clude the need for formal age structure exchanges;
however, informal interactions between neighboring
states are encouraged to ensure that aging reliability is
maintained.

2. Recent studies have established that first-year growth
of this species is extremely rapid, explaining the con-

fusion during the 1980 Summer Flounder Age and
Growth Workshop concerning the interpretation of
first annulus location.

3. There is still some uncertainty concerning the spawn-
ing time of summer flounder in northeastern waters
which may confound some studies, e.g., species/stock
distribution; however, this uncertainty does not affect
aging interpretations.

REFERENCES CITED

Able, K.W.; Matheson, R.E.; Morse, W.W.; Fahay, M.P.;
Shepherd, G. 1990. Patterns of summer flounder,
Paralichthys dentatus, early life history in the Mid-
Atlantic Bight and New Jersey estuaries. Fish. Bull.
(U.S.) 88(1):1-12.

Dery, L.M. 1988. Summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus.

In: Penttila, J.,; Dery, L.M., eds. Age determination
methods for Northwest Atlantic species. NOAA Techni-
cal Report NMFS 72:97-102. Available from: U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Fogarty, MJ. 1981. A review and assessment of the
summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, fishery in the
Northwest Atlantic. Woods Hole Laboratory Reference
Document No. 81-25; 54p. Available from: National
Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA.

Herman, S.S. 1963. Planktonic fish eggs and larvae of
Narragansett Bay. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8:103-109.

Monaghan, J.P., Jr. 1990. Study III - Paralichthid floun-
ders. In: Annual progress report for Project F-29-5,
Marine Fisheries Research. Available from: N.C. Divi-
sion of Marine Fisheries, Morehead City, NC.

Morse, W.W. 1981. Reproduction of the summer flounder,
Paralichthys dentatus (L.). J. Fish Biol. 19:189-203.
(Northeast Fisheries Center.] 1986. Report of Third NEFC
Stock Assessment Workshop (Third SAW). - Woods
Hole Laboratory Reference Document No. 86-14; 98p.
Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service,

Woods Hole, MA.

(Northeast Fisheries Center.] 1989. Report of the Fall 1989
NEFC Stock Assessment Workshop (Ninth SAW). North-
east Fisheries Center Reference Document 89-08; 71p.
Available from: National Marine Fisheries Service,
Woods Hole, MA.

Penttila, J.; Dery, L.M., editors. 1988. Age determination
methods for Northwest Atlantic species. NOAA Techni-
cal Report NMFS 72; 135p. Available from: U.S. Gov-
ernment Printing Office, Washington, DC.

Poole, J.C.. 1961. Age.and growth of the fluke in Great
South Bay and their significance to the sport fishery. N.Y.
Fish Game J. 8(1):1-18.

Shepherd, G. 1980. A comparative study of ageing
methods for summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus).
Woods Hole Laboratory Reference Document No. 80-
13; 26p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries
Service, Woods Hole, MA.

Smith, R.W.; Daiber, F.C. 1977. Biology of the summer
flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, in Delaware Bay. Fish.
Bull. (U.S.) 75(4):823-830.

Smith, R.W.; Dery, L.M.; Scarlett, P.G.; Jearld, A. 1981.
Proceedings of the Summer Flounder, Paralichthys
dentatus, Age and Growth Workshop, 20-21 May 1980,
Northeast Fisheries Center, Woods Hole, Massachu-
setts. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEFC-
11; 30p. Available from: National Marine Fisheries
Service, Woods Hole, MA.

Smith, W.G. 1973. The distribution of summer flounder,
Paralichthys dentatus, eggs and larvae on the continental
shelf between Cape Cod and Cape Lookout, 1965-66.
Fish. Bull. (U.S.) 71:527-548.

Smith, W.G.; Fahay, W.P. 1970. Description of eggs and
larvae of the summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus.
USS. Fish & Wildlife Service Research Report 75; 21p.
Available from: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washing-
ton, DC.

Szedimayer, S.T.; Able, K.W.; Roundtree, R.A. 1992.
Summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, growth and
temperature induced mortality during the first year in
southern New Jersey. Copeia 1992: 120-128.



Page 5

WHE

NG

SN,
We

AN

Figure 6. Scale impression of a 31-cm, age-2 summer flounder
collected in March from waters off the New Jersey coast
[Figure 7 from Dery (1988)}.

Figure 5. Scale impression of a 26-cm, age-1 summer flounder
collected in May from northern waters [Figure 4 from
Dery (1988)].

Figure 8. Scale impression of a 38-cm, age-2 summer flounder
collected in May from southem waters [Figure 6 from
Dery (1988)].

Figure 7. Scale impression of a 61-cm, age-4 summer flounder
collected in May from waters off the New Jersey coast
[Figure 12 from Dery (1988)].


Page 2

SPRING 50 1962 AUTUMN 50 1982
50. 1975, 50: 1975, 1983
7 al
50. 1977, 1985, 50. 1977 1985
& Eh Blo, = 25
5 be
wl i
go gS
Ba mt m| f= ms =
a n=256 net78 2185 n=245
. {all
50, 1981 1969 50. 1981 1989
AGE AGE AGE AGE

Figure 1. Age composition (percent) of NEFC spring bottom
trawl survey samples of summer flounder during 1975-
89.

Fisheries Center 1986), indicating that fishing mortality
levels may have been significantly higher than presented in
the previous assessments. The implications of these results
were not discussed at this workshop since a full review of
the changes in fishing mortality was presented at the Ninth
SAW.

SPAWNING TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Current knowledge of spawning periodicity and loca-
tions was discussed since it is apparent that the protracted
spawning period of this species has had implications on the
interpretation of ages for individuals from different areas.
There have been several studies to describe the spawning
periodicity and locations of summer flounder, including:
(1) examination of the distribution of eggs and larvae from
monthly surveys along the continental shelf (Herman 1963;
Smith and Fahay 1970; Smith 1973); (2) calculation of
“maturity indices” of ovary weight/total weight (Morse
1981); and (3) weekly, biweekly, and monthly seine, plank-
ton, and trawl surveys in Middle Atlantic waters (Able etal.
1990; Monaghan 1990). Results of these studies indicate
that, in general, summer flounder spawning occurs over a
very wide area from Georges Bank to Cape Hatteras and
from inshore to the edge of the continental shelf. Smith
(1973) indicated that the area of greatest abundance of eggs

Figure 2. Age composition (percent) of NEFC autumn bottom
trawl survey samples of summer flounder during 1975-

89.

75 1982 1986
:
78: 1983 1987
:

a i.

Zz

Ww

oO 0.

&

a 7s 1984 1988
:
‘ lh
75: 1985, 1989
:

o123 45678
AGE AGE

Figure 3. Age composition (percent) of offshore commercial
fishery samples of summer flounder during 1982-89.


Page ii
NOTE ON SPECIES NAMES

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s policy on the use of species names in technical publications and reports is to follow
the American Fisheries Society’s (AFS). lists of common and scientific names for fishes (Robins et al. 1991)*, mollusks ,
(Turgeon et al. 1988), and decapod crustaceans (Williams et al. 1989)*. This policy applies to all issues of the NOAA
Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC series.

* Robins, C.R. (chair), R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common
and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada, Sth ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 20. 183 pp.

» Turgeon, D.D. (chair), A.E. Bogan, E.V. Coan, W.K. Emerson, W.G. Lyons, W.L. Pratt, C.F.E. Roper, A. Scheltema, F.G.
Thompson, and J.D. Williams. 1988. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and
Canada: mollusks. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 16. 277 pp.

* Williams, A.B. (chair), L.G. Abele, D.L. Felder, H.H. Hobbs, Jr., RB. Manning, P.A. McLaughlin, and I. Pérez Farfante.

1989. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans.
Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 17. 77 pp.

il


g

(continued from inside front cover)

68. MARMAP Surveys of the Continental Shelf from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia
(1984-87). Atlas No. 3. Summary of Operations. By John D. Sibunka and Myron J. Silverman. July 1989. iv + 197
p., 36 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB90-160656/AS.

69. The 1988 Experimental Whiting Fishery: A NMFS/Industry Cooperative Program. By Frank P. Almeida,
Thurston S. Bums, and Sukwoo Chang. August 1989. v + 16 p., 9 figs., 11 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB90-
160664/AS.

70. Summer Distribution of Regulated Species on Georges Bank with Reference to the 1988 Experimental
Whiting Fishery. By Frank P. Almeida, Sukwoo Chang, and Thurston S. Burns. September 1989. v+ 25 p., 74 figs.,
1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB90-206525/AS.

71. Allocation of Statewide-Reported MRFSS Catch and Landings Statistics between Areas: Application to
Winter Flounder. By Frank P. Almeida. September 1989. v + 18 p., 5 figs., 6 tables, 2 app. NTIS Access. No. PB90-
246745.

72. Status of the Fishery Resources off the Northeastern United States for 1989. By Conservation and Utilization
Division, Northeast Fisheries Center. December 1989. iv+ 110p., 50 figs., 93 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB90-170622/
AS.

73. Surface and Bottom Temperature Distribution for the Northeast Continental Shelf. By David G. Mountain
and Tamara J. Holzwarth. December 1989. iii + 32 p., 31 figs. NTIS Access. No. PB90-252172/AS.

74. Shell Disease of Crustaceans in the New York Bight. By C.J. Sindermann (chair.), F. Csulak (EPA coord.), T.K.
Sawyer (rapp.), R.A. Bullis, D.W. Engel, B.T. Estrella, E.J. Noga, J.B. Pearce, J.C. Rugg, R. Runyon, J.A. Tiedemann,
and R.R. Young. December 1989. vii + 47 p., 7 figs., 4 tables, 4 app. NTIS Access. No. PB90-195058/AS.

75. An Indexed Bibliography of Northeast Fisheries Center Publications and Reports for 1988. By Jon A. Gibson.
December 1989. iii + 32 p. NTIS Access. No. PB91-112912.

76. Finfish Maturity Sampling and Classification Schemes Used during Northeast Fisheries Center Bottom
Trawl Surveys, 1963-89. By Jay Burnett, Loretta O'Brien, Ralph K. Mayo, Jeffrey A. Darde, and Margot L. Bohan.
December 1989. iii+14 p., 11 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB91-128389/AS.

77. Shell Disease among Red Crabs Inhabiting Submarine Canyons of the New York Bight. By Randall R. Young.
December 1989. iii+9 p., 18 figs., 5 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB90-194762/AS.

78. Seasonal Distribution Patterns of Commercial Landings of 45 Species off the Northeastern United States
during 1977-88. By Sukwoo Chang. October 1990. v+130 p., 246 figs. NTIS Access. No. PB91-160846.

79. Contaminants in Sediment and Fish Tissue from Estuarine and Coastal Sites of the Northeastern United
States: Data Summary for the Baseline Phase of the National Status and Trends Program Benthic Surveillance
Project, 1984-1986. By Vincent S. Zdanowicz and Donald F. Gadbois. December 1990. x + 138p., 67 figs., 21 tables.
NTIS Access. No. PB92-147453/AS.

80. Distribution of Sexually Immature Components of 10 Northwest Atlantic Groundfish Species Based on
Northeast Fisheries Center Bottom Trawl Surveys, 1968-86. By Susan E. Wigley and Wendy L. Gabriel. January
1991. iv + 17 p., 23 figs., 3 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB92-101617.

81. Status of the Fishery Resources Off the Northeastern United States for 1990. By Conservation and Utilization
Division, Northeast Fisheries Center. January 1991. iv + 130 p., 50 figs., 82 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB91-213785.

82. Response of the Habitat and Biota of the Inner New York Bight to Abatement of Sewage Sludge Dumping:
Third Annual Progress Report--1989. By Anne L. Studholme, Merton C. Ingham, and Anthony Pacheco, eds.
February 1991. vi + 57 p., 74 figs., 20 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB91-208199.


AIMOSA i, .
a ot NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-89.

Z 2

3 Fy This TM series is used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary results,

A, fa interim reports, or special purpose information, and has not undergone external scientific
>

review.
arent OF oo

Proceedings
of the NEFC/ASMFC Summer
Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus,
Aging Workshop, 11-13 June 1990,
Northeast Fisheries Center,
Woods Hole, Mass.

Frank P. Almeida’, Raoul E. Castaneda’, Roman Jesien’,
Richard E. Greenfield', and John M. Burnett!

‘Woods Hole Lab., National Marine Fisheries Serv., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097
Bur. of Finfish, New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356
* Horn Point Environmental Lab., Univ. of Maryland, Cambridge, MD 21613

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Rockwell A. Schnabel, Acting Secretary
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
John A. Knauss, Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
William W. Fox, Jr., Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
Northeast Region
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts

January 1992


Recent issues in this series

53. Contaminants in Hudson-Raritan Estuary Water and Influence of Cold Storage upon Its Chemical
Composition. By Anthony Calabrese, Lawrence J. Buckley, and J. Christopher Powell. May 1988. vii + 37 p., 10 figs.,
11 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB88-225628/AS.

54. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndromes in Coastal/Estuarine Fish. By Carl J. Sindermann. June 1988. v + 37 p., 8 figs.,
1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB89-110803/AS.

55. A Plan for Study: Response of the Habitat and Biota of the Inner New York Bight to Abatement of Sewage
Sludge Dumping. By Environmental Processes Division, Northeast Fisheries Center. June 1988. iii + 34 p., 5 figs., 3
tables, 4 app. NTIS Access. No. PB89-100903/AS.

56. Characterization of the Middle Atlantic Water Management Unit of the Northeast Regional Action Plan. By
Anthony L. Pacheco, ed. July 1988, v + 322 p., 136 figs., 21 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB89-145262/AS.

57. An Analysis and Evaluation of Ichthyoplankton Survey Data from the Northeast Continental Shelf
Ecosystem. By Wallace G. Smith, ed. August 1988. xiii + 132 p., 53 figs., 12 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB89-
122501/AS.

58. An Indexed Bibliography of Northeast Fisheries Center Publications and Reports for 1987. By Jon A. Gibson.
August 1988. iii + 20 p. NTIS Access, No. PB89-113013/AS.

59. Surveys of Breeding Penguins and Other Seabirds in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, January-
February 1987. By W. David Shuford and Larry B. Spear. September 1988. vii + 27 p., 14 figs., 1 table. NTIS Access.
No. PB89-141311/AS.

60. Survey of Antarctic Fur Seals in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the 1986-1987 Austral
Summer. By John L. Bengtson, Lisa M. Ferm, Tero J. Harkonen, Everett G. Schaner, and Brent S. Stewart. September
1988. vii + 8 p., 1 fig., 3 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB89-141303/AS.

61. Fish as Sentinels of Environmental Health. By Robert A. Murchelano. September 1988. iii + 16 p., 4 figs. NTIS
Access. No. PB89-139737/AS.

62. The Effects of Density Dependent Population Mechanisms on Assessment Advice for the Northwest Atlantic
Mackerel Stock. By W. J. Overholtz, S.A. Murawski, W.L. Michaels, and L.M. Dery. October 1988. v + 49 p.,7 figs.,
20 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB89-151948/AS.

63. Status of the Fishery Resources Off the Northeastern United States for 1988. By Conservation and Utilization
Division. October 1988. iii + 135 p., 51 figs., 52 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB89-130819/AS.

64. The Shell Disease Syndrome in Marine Crustaceans. By Carl J. Sindermann. February 1989. v + 43 p., 5 figs.,
2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB89-162523/AS.

65. Stock Assessment Information for Pollock, Pollachius virens (L.), in the Scotian Shelf, Georges Bank, and Gulf
of Maine Regions. By Ralph K. Mayo, Stephen H. Clark, and M. Christina Annand. April 1989. vi + 14 p., 6 figs.,
14 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB90-120676/AS.

66. Guidelines for Estimating Lengths at Age for 18 Northwest Atlantic Finfish and Shellfish Species. By Judith
A. Pentilla, Gary A. Nelson, and John M. Burnett, III. May 1989. iii + 39 p., 18 figs., 19 tables. NTIS Access. No., PB90-
120675/AS.

67. Response of the Habitat and Biota of the Inner New York Bight to Abatement of Sewage Sludge Dumping.

Second Annual Progress Report -- 1988. By Environmental Processes Division, Northeast Fisheries Center. July
1989. vii + 47 p., 39 figs., 11 tables, 3 app. NTIS Access. No. PB90-125444/AS.

(continued on inside back cover)



Page 7

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Ken Able Blanche Jackson
Rutgers University Northeast Fisheries Center
Frank Almeida* Roman Jesien
Northeast Fisheries Center University of Maryland
Darrin Alves Stewart Michels
Northeast Fisheries Center Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
Thomas Angell : Rick Monaghan
Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
Jay Burnett Nancy Munroe
Northeast Fisheries Center Northeast Fisheries Center
Raoul Castaneda* . Rob O'Reilly
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Stephen Clark Apostolos Pappas
Northeast Fisheries Center Northeast Fisheries Center
Steven Correia Anne Richards
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Center
Joseph Desfosse
Virginia Institute of Marine Science Richard Satchwill
Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife
Kurt Gottschall
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Gary Shepherd
Northeast Fisheries Center
Cynthia Gray
Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife Vaughn Silva
Northeast Fisheries Center
Richard Greenfield
Northeast Fisheries Center Richard Sisson
Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife
Randy Gregory
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Mark Terceiro
Northeast Fisheries Center
Penny Howell

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

* Coconvenors

EUs S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992--600-031--60000


Information Services Unit
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
166 Water St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097

THIRD CLASS MAIL

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
OF THE
NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks to “achieve a continued optimum utilization of living
resources for the benefit of the Nation.” 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.” To assist itself in providing data, information,
and advice to its constituents, the NEFSC issues publications and reports in four categories:

Technical Memorandums--Issued irregularly as the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC series. Series includes: data reports
of long-term 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, and summary reports of scientific or technical workshops. Issues receive
thorough intemal scientific review and 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.

Reference Documents--Issued irregularly as the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document scries. Series includes: data
reports on field and lab observations or experiments; progress reports on continuing experiments, monitoring, and assessments; and
background papers for scientific or technical workshops. Issues receive minimal internal scientific review and no technical editing. No
subscriptions. Free distribution of single copies.

Information Reports--Issued in several series, including: Research Highlights (6-12 mes per year); End-of-Year Report (annual); News
Release (irregular), Fishermen's Report (up to four times per year); and The Shark Tagger (two times per year). Content is timely, special-
purpose data and/or information. Level of scientific review and technical editing varies by series. Alll series available through free
subscription except for The Shark Tagger which is available only to participants in the NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.

Information Pamphiets—Issued irregularly as the Information Pamphlet series. Series includes easy-to-read summaries of the practical
applications and implications of NEFSC research findings to current popular concems. A list of available pamphlets can be oblained upon
request. No subscriptions. Free distribution of single copies. Multi-copy requests considered, subject to supply.

To obtain a copy of a Technical Memorandum or a Reference Document, or to subscribe to an Information
Report, write: Information Services Unit, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole,
MA 02543-1097. 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.