Annual Report and Statement of Program Direction - 1995

Ongoing Projects Supported With Base Funding

Biology of the Longhorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus (93-02, Year 3 of 3)

The longhorn sculpin may be an important competitor with or predator of commercially important species in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. However, little is presently known about the biology of the species. Two aspects of the biology of the species will be addressed in this project. First, working with the Fishery Biology Investigation of NEFSC, an analysis will be performed of the growth characteristics of the species, which is critical to ultimately understanding its production potential. Second, working with the consumption rates will be determined for a range of temperatures typical of Georges Bank.

Quality Determination in Atlantic Mackerel (93-04, Year 3 of 3)

Station, Gloucester, MA J. Krzynowek, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, Gloucester, MA The Atlantic mackerel is a major underutilized species on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. One reason for its underutilization is that the fish undergoes rapid deterioration in quality after being caught. To expand both domestic and foreign markets, it is necessary to develop procedures for accurate determination of the quality of mackerel and reasonable predictions of its potential shelf-life under different conditions. Since lipid oxidation is a major cause of quality deterioration in stored mackerel, the project will compare objective measurements of lipid oxidation with sensory evaluation of different forms of mackerel to provide a means for quality determination of mackerel products.

Prey Size and Type Selectivity and Predator Dynamics of Marine Fish on the Northeast Continental Shelf (94-04, Year 2 of 3)

Predator-prey interactions are strongly influenced by the relative sizes of predator and prey. The relationship between relative sizes is critical in food web structure and must therefore be determined to model multispecies interactions. Much of the ongoing work on food habits at the NEFSC is directed at developing a multispecies model for the Georges Bank system which will examine the role of predation on fish community dynamics. As part of this work, a large data base has been assembled on the prey composition (type and size) of selected predators on the Northeast Continental Shelf. In comparison to planktivorous fishes, little is known about the patterns or the behavioral basis of prey selection among piscivorous fish. A specific objective of this project is to determine prey size and type selectivity of key predators on the Northeast Continental Shelf by using the assembled data base.

Contemporary Use of Marine Resources for Subsistence: an Exploratory Study in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (94-07, Year 2 of 2)

In order to develop a better understanding of the social and economic meanings, value functions, and dependencies associated with subsistence use of marine resources, scientists, managers, and policy makers require information on the nature and extent of subsistence utilization. The overall goal of this study is to determine the extent to which there exist people in Massachusetts who rely on marine resources for subsistence production. The goal will be accomplished by: (1) identifying and describing specific individuals or groups of people characterized by subsistence use of marine resources; (2) identifying patterns of subsistence production associated with marine resources, including the nature and extent of use, the amount and variety of resources harvested, the extent of additional resource harvesting activity, resource sharing and distribution networks, contributions of marine resources to household food budgets, and the magnitude of bartering activities; and (3) identifying the different types of subsistence dependency.

Detection of Irradiated Seafood (94-09, Year 2 of 2)

Irradiation preservation of food is a revolutionary technique. Its application can enhance the commercialization of nutritious and attractive supplies of seafood and seafood products. Reliable control methods, such as the one that will be developed in this project, are essential for production, handling, processing, and compliance with rules and regulations. As important is the role such a method would play in enhancing consumer confidence and facilitating international trade. The objectives of this project are to investigate the analysis of lipid-derived volatiles as a simple technique for the detection of irradiation treatment in seafood, and to optimize parameters of the analysis to insure maximum sensitivity, repeatability, and specificity.

CMER Home

Page 2

TEI Home

Page 4