Scientists and the Fishing Industry Join Forces for Better Data and Management (Part 2)

Industry-Based Biological Sampling Fills Data Gaps to Improve Stock Assessments

Our cooperative research team works with industry partners across New England and the Mid-Atlantic to collect fish and invertebrate samples to better understand age, growth, reproduction, and bioenergetics. These samples fill data gaps during times of year and areas without surveys or other ways of collecting fish samples.

For example, we have collected herring samples to evaluate skipped spawning events. We have also collected haddock samples to study reproductive dynamics in the Gulf of Maine, where extreme fluctuations occur. We recently collected critical data from weekly samples of longfin squid to advance the understanding of longfin squid life history. This will provide data to support the 2026 longfin research track stock assessment. Since the program began in 2009, we have collected samples from more than 35 species from over 70 fishing vessels.

"I've been a fisherman for a long time, but doing cooperative research has been great for learning even more about the biology of squid," shared commercial fisherman and industry partner Mark Philips. "It's a breath of fresh air to work with the staff. Their excitement for science motivates me to continue to collaborate and it's clear they have our back."

Learn more about Industry-based Biological Sampling

Updating Groundfish Measurements for Better Management

Fishermen in the groundfish industry harvest species including Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock and flounder. Commercial fishery quotas and recorded catch are typically based on total fish weight. However, scientists need to know the number of individual fish caught for accurate stock assessments. To bridge this gap, they translate catch weights into fish numbers using length-weight relationships and whole to gutted weight conversion factors.

The length-weight relationship-a mathematical model to predict a fish's weight based on its length-is an important tool in fisheries science. Converting length to weight can be tricky for species like Atlantic cod because they are typically gutted at sea. We need to convert the fish's gutted weight back to whole, or live, weight. We do this conversion by applying a "conversion factor," which represents the ratio of the gutted weight to the whole weight.

Our cooperative research team launched the project to update conversion factors for cod, haddock and pollock, and the length/weight calculations for those species as well as five species of flounder. We are working with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the commercial groundfish industry, including fish dealers and fishermen from:

• Gloucester, Massachusetts
• Boston, Massachusetts
• New Bedford, Massachusetts
• Point Judith, Rhode Island

The project has already made great strides. We have sampled more than 2,462 fish at sea for conversion factor data from nine vessels and more than 6,044 fish sampled portside for length-weight data from 10 fish dealers. Our scientists sail on commercial fishing trips and sample at fish houses. They measure individual fish lengths and weights, and collect otoliths-fish ear bones-which they use to determine a fish's age. We share quarterly progress reports with our fishing industry partners, providing preliminary results and integrating their feedback into the project.

Read more about Groundfish Conversion Factor Research

Partnering to Size Up Golden Tilefish for Stock Assessment

Adult Golden tilefish live in burrows and are not often caught during our fisheries surveys. We also infrequently encounter them during portside sampling. Because of this, the tilefish stock in the Mid-Atlantic is a data-poor fishery. For accurate stock assessments, we need to measure the lengths of more tilefish. That's why our cooperative research team is partnering with a fishing vessel that catches golden tilefish for a pilot project to estimate tilefish lengths using video recording.

We are working with the F/V Seacapture and TeemFish to collect video data of tilefish on measuring boards. A member of our cooperative research team reviews the footage and estimates tilefish lengths. We have generated more than 7,000 length estimates so far. We will continue this pilot project for another year to build a robust dataset to compare with port sampling and data collected by fisheries observers. Our scientists will present the results to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Laurie Nolan, owner of the Seacapture, shared, "It has been a pleasure working with the Cooperative Research team. We hope to produce needed length data that can be used in the stock assessment process for golden tilefish."

Learn more about Collaborative Golden Tilefish Length Sampling

Recreational Catch Data Powers Cod and Winter Flounder Stock Assessments

We recently teamed up with New England's recreational fishermen and other partners to collect missing data on Atlantic cod and winter flounder. More complete data will help these important fish populations recover and keep fishermen fishing.

In light of recent advancements in our understanding of Atlantic cod populations, stock assessment scientists needed more biological data from the recreational fishing fleet. We teamed up with members of New England's recreational for-hire fleet, the New England Aquarium, Pelagic Strategies, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to fill those data gaps.

During the first year, 12 participating charter boat captains measured the lengths and cited the precise location and date/time caught for more than 3,000 fish. They also collected fin clips for genetic sampling and otoliths to determine the age of more than 300 cod. This data will fill critical gaps, informing more effective management for both cod and winter flounder.

Learn more about the Recreational Biological Sampling Program

Building Lasting Relationships Between Fishermen and Scientists

We are committed to building new partnerships between the wider science and fishing communities and we developed the Northeast Cooperative Research Summit to do just that. This annual event, which rotates between New England and the Mid-Atlantic, provides an opportunity to learn about ongoing cooperative research, define research priorities, and connect with fishermen and scientists.

"The summit does a really great job of creating a forum where everyone feels on equal ground. As an early career scientist it is awesome to be able to just strike up a conversation with a fisherman. I learn so much just from talking with them, and it means a lot to learn their names and see their faces and hear about their experiences." - Northeast Cooperative Research Summit Participant

Our cooperative research team is available to help make connections and turn fishermen's ideas into research. If you are a fisherman interested in conducting collaborative research to improve the science and management of New England and Mid-Atlantic fisheries, contact Cooperative Research Branch Chief Anna Mercer. If you are a scientist looking for a research partner in the fishing community, we can connect you to vessels participating in the fisheries or areas that your research focuses on. The relationships built through cooperative research are critical to expanding knowledge of fisheries and marine ecosystems, and improving fisheries management.