Dataset: Spiny dogfish discard mortality using commercial hook gear from F/V Riena Marie NEC-ST2005-1 in the Gulf of Maine and off Cape Cod, July 2006 (NEC-CoopRes project)

Industry-science partnership investigating the short-term and long-term discard mortality of spiny dogfish using commercial hook gear in the Gulf of Maine.

Co-P.I.'s:
Shelly Tallack (Gulf of Maine Research Institute)
Lara Slifka (Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association)

Final Report

Abstract

The unpopular spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, represents a resource which, in recent years, despite its apparent high abundance, is considered vulnerable to overfishing. This vulnerability hinges on its characteristics of slow growth, late maturation (~6 years in males and ~12 years in females), high maximum age (35-40 years) and low natural mortality (M=0.09). One immediate problem faced by fishery managers is that while spiny dogfish are periodically caught in high numbers as bycatch (during both recreational and commercial trips), there is little information regarding the survivability of the discarded dogfish. Two recent studies have addressed dogfish discard survival from trawl gear and gillnet gear; the current study addresses survival from commercial hook gear.

This collaborative project represents a partnership between the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association (CCCHFA) and commercial fishermen working with each organization in Gulf of Maine waters and Southern New England waters, respectively. The primary research objective was to investigate the short-term discard mortality rate of dogfish from different commercial hook gears. Survivability was investigated through caging studies.