Feasibility of increasing striped bass populations by stocking of underutilized nursery grounds : annual progress report 1971-1972

Numerous estuaries in the lower Chesapeake Bay region and coastal Virginia possess physical, chemical and biological properties favorable· to their use as nursery grounds for striped bass. Many of them, however, are not so utilized because of the absence of associated spawning grounds. This project was designed to investigate the feasibility of stocking such underutilized nursery grounds as a management device, while monitoring population parameters such as age composition, mortality rates and relative abundance of year classes

Pictorial guide to some common marine and estuarine fishes of commercial and sport importance

This pictorial guide has been compiled for use by Virginia Department of Agriculture Food Inspectors. It is to serve as a quick guide to species commonly found in Virginia markets to alleviate the problem of ambiguities and 11 common name duplications

Feasibility of increasing striped bass populations by stocking of underutilized nursery grounds : Completion report 1970-1973

The research program at VIMS concerning striped bass in the Viiginia tributaries of Chesapeake Bay is summarized in this report. Results herein presented represent a completion report relative to the contract with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife; but they are only a progress report of the assessment and management program for striped bass in Virginia waters

Finfisheries Problems and Approaches

The fisheries data of principal concern at this conference are those which provide an accurate description of the harvest from the resource. Most often, one thinks of the standard reference fishery data from commercial fish landings: pounds by species, dockside dollar value, location of the catch, gear used, and number of fishermen. These data have been widely used by biologists and managers to evaluate the status of particular stocks and trends in the fishery. An example of a recent evaluation for Chesapeake Bay fisheries is Rothschild et ·a1. (1981). Several underlying truths must be borne in mind when discussing territorial seas fisheries management and the statistical database.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/1152/thumbnail.jp

Assessment of mechanical damage to entrained ichthyoplankton, VEPCO Surry Nuclear Power Station

Thermal plume ichthyopla~kton sampling during November and December 1976 was cancelled since Units 1 and 2 of VEPCO Surry Nuclear Power Station were non-operational due to refueling. In lieu of the thermal plume ichthyoplankton entrainment program, a sampling program to estimate mortality from mechanical damage was initiated. Four sampling sites were selected for determination of quantity and condition of organisms entering and leaving the plant. Sites were selected at points preceding and following critical areas where the likelihood of damage was greatest. Net .sets were made using a 0.5 meter paired net apparatus. All sets were at bottom strata to maximize catch of postlarval and juvenile croaker, the dominant species during the sampling period. Specimen condition was ranked into three categories; alive, stunned, and dead. Relative specimen condition; e.g. swimming upside down, broken in half, etc., was also noted. Replicate samples were examined after a time lag to determine latent mortality,if any

The displacement and loss of larval fishes from the Rappahannock and James rivers, Virginia, following a major tropical storm

Two days after Tropical Storm Agnes, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) established an anchor station at Mile 15 in the Rappahannock and Mile 10 in the James River. Both stations were in mainstream, manned constantly for 10 days, and took continuous current data from meters placed at 0, 6, 8, and 15 min the Rappahannock and 0, 4, 5, 8, and 14 min the James. Concurrently, 0.85 m diameter plankton nets of No. 1 nylon mesh were hung in the flowing surface water for 10 minutes hourly. A small collection of midwater (4 m) plankton samples was obtained from the James station. The shoal areas were not sampled for larval fish. The ichthyoplankton and zooplankton captured were preserved and later identified to species.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/1078/thumbnail.jp

Factors associated with accuracy in sampling fish eggs and larvae

Ichthyoplankton sampling gear is reviewed and evaluated with emphasis on power plant impact assessment. Effects of biotic and abiotic factors on gear accuracy are discussed. Difficulties associated with obtaining representative samples from patchy population distributions are acknowledged. A listing of commonly used sampling gear has been compiled and indexed by ecosystem. Meter nets and variations of meter nets are the most widely used gear for sampling fish eggs and larvae. Comparative gear evaluation has been performed based on information compiled in the report. Although the diversity of habitats and the great number of relatively important species makes summarization difficult, the following comparisons are made. Meter nets sample greater length interval s and greater numbers of fish larvae per unit volume than half meter nets. Bridleless Bongo nets are more efficient in sampling larger larvae than meter nets . High volume pumps sample fewer or equal numbers of fish eggs than half meter and meter nets, but may provide better estimates of larger larvae. A check list highlighting important factors to consider when selecting gear is provided. Features to be optimized in gear design and deployment are summarized