UMass/NOAA Cooperative Marine Education and Research Program

ANNUAL REPORT AND

STATEMENT OF PROGRAM DIRECTION - 1996

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The UMass/NOAA Cooperative Marine Education and Research (CMER) Program is now in its eighth year. Established in early 1989 under a Cooperative Agreement between the University of Massachusetts (UMass) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the CMER Program combines university and agency expertise to address marine issues affecting the Commonwealth, region, and nation. The CMER Program has recently been expanded to include access to faculty, staff, and students on all five UMass campuses: Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester.

As of October 1996, cooperative projects funded through the UMass/NOAA CMER Program have totaled close to $1,200,000, have involved 26 UMass faculty and staff, and have supported 81 undergraduate and graduate students. On the NOAA side, agency scientists have been participating in the CMER Program as principal investigators, academic instructors, and chairs and members of graduate student committees. Both UMass and NOAA have also allowed participants in the CMER Program access to facilities and equipment to conduct research and training.

Base funding for the CMER Program is provided by NOAA through the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Most of the funds available to the CMER Program in 1996 will be used to start new projects: evaluating evidence for a shift in the plankton regime of the northwest Atlantic (UMass-Dartmouth), measuring maturity in Atlantic cod (UMass-Amherst), examining school structure and individual feeding behavior of bluefin tuna (UMass-Amherst), establishing four student intern positions in marine fisheries management (UMass-Amherst), and developing a baseline study of the hook, small trawler, and charter boat fisheries in the northeast US (UMass-Dartmouth).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

NEW PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH BASE FUNDING 1

Regime Shifts in the Plankton of the Northwest Atlantic (96-06) 2

ONGOING PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH BASE FUNDING 2

Detection of Irradiated Seafood (94-09) 3

NEW PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH EXTRA-CURRICULAR FUNDING 3

Fishery Management Internships (96-10) 3

School Structure and Individual Feeding Behavior of Bluefin Tuna (96-11) 4

A Baseline Study of the Northeast Hook, Small Trawler, and Charter Boat Fisheries (96-13) 4

ONGOING PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH EXTRA-CURRICULAR FUNDING 4

Merrimack River Estuary (95-13) 4

PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED IN 1996 OR EARLY 1997 5

Biology of the Longhorn Sculpin (93-02) 5

Seabird Entanglement by Commercial Fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (93-01) 6

CMER-SPONSORED THESES AND DISSERTATIONS 6

CMER-SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS: 1995-1996 7

CMER-SPONSORED PRESENTATIONS: 1995-1996 8

 

INTRODUCTION

The UMass/NOAA Cooperative Marine Education and Research (CMER) Program is now in its eighth year. Established in early 1989 under a Cooperative Agreement between the University of Massachusetts (UMass) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the CMER Program combines university and agency expertise to address marine issues affecting the Commonwealth, region, and nation. Through Memoranda of Agreement within the UMass system, the CMER Program has recently been expanded to include access to faculty, staff, and students on all five UMass campuses: Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has provided at least $50,000 per year as base support for the Program (Figure 1). NOAA also supports an on-campus NOAA employee who serves as CMER Program Director and member of the UMass graduate faculty. In return, UMass provides office space and administrative and clerical support for the CMER Program Director, and a reduced overhead rate on CMER projects. Additional monetary support for the CMER Program is provided from other NOAA units and other federal agencies. All studies performed under the CMER Program must be consistent with the objectives and conditions of the Cooperative Agreement.

In a truly cooperative program, all parties contribute towards the objectives of the program beyond simple monetary reimbursement. The CMER Program is no exception. The Cooperative Agreement is intended "to provide for active university/agency cooperation in the advancement, organization, and operation of marine research, education, in-service training, and demonstration programs." The Cooperative Agreement requires NOAA "to cooperate with UMass in the planning, outlining, developing" of these activities. The CMER Program provides administrative oversight and control over activities funded through the Cooperative Agreement. As of October 1996, cooperative projects funded through the UMass/NOAA CMER Program have totaled close to $1,200,000 (Figure 1), have involved 26 faculty and staff, and have supported 81 undergraduate and graduate students (Table 1, Appendix I). Approximately one-half of the projects have addressed aspects of the biology and life history of estuarine and marine species; topics addressed by the other projects are habitat, fishery bycatch, socioeconomics, sampling techniques and statistics, business management, education and training, and fishery product quality, safety, and use (figures 2 and 3). On the NOAA side, agency scientists have been participating in the CMER Program as principal investigators, research associates, academic instructors, and chairs and members of graduate student committees (Table 2, Appendix II), in addition to collaborating in the design and execution of cooperative research projects. Access to facilities and equipment has also been granted to participants in the CMER Program by UMass and NOAA (Table 3, Appendix III).

 

NEW PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH BASE FUNDING

Base funding for the CMER Program is provided by NOAA through the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). Base funds available to the CMER Program in 1996 are being used to continue studies that were initiated in earlier years and to begin new projects (Table 4). Priority for supporting new projects with base funds is set by the UMass/NOAA Coordinating Committee, currently composed of the Vice Chancellor for Research for UMass (Frederick W. Byron, Jr.), the Director of The Environmental Institute at UMass (Joseph S. Larson), the Director of the NMFS Office of Science and Technology (William W. Fox, Jr.), and the Science and Research Director of the Northeast Region of NMFS (Michael P. Sissenwine). The CMER Program is administered on campus through The Environmental Institute. The program direction for 1996 includes new base-funded studies that are evaluating evidence for a shift in the plankton regime of the northwest Atlantic, being conducted on the Dartmouth campus, and measuring maturity in Atlantic cod, being conducted on the Amherst campus.

 

Regime Shifts in the Plankton of the Northwest Atlantic (96-06, Year 1 of 1)

B. Rothschild, Center for Marine Science, Environment, and Technology, UMASS-Dartmouth

The project will evaluate aspects of regime shifts of plankton in the northwest Atlantic in terms of physical forcing and plankton variability. The possible physical basis for such shifts is now becoming clearer, based on studies conducted on the North Sea and in the north Pacific. Of further interest is the observation that regime shifts in fish stocks may be coupled with zooplankton dynamics, Specific objectives of the project are to: (1) analyze statistically the interannual and decadal patterns of temperature, salinity, and other physical data; (2) apply synthetic and analytic temporal and spatial analysis to plankton data; (3) relate analyses and data in parts 1 and 2 that include vertical and horizontal stratification in plankton and other organisms, such as fish; and (4) place all analyses in the context of "regime shifts." The investigator intends to develop simple dynamic models that relate the physical parameters to the biological parameters in the context of regime shifts, and thereby lead toward developing a predictive-understanding of the regime shifts phenomena.

 

Serum and Egg Vitellogenin Measurement in the Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) and its Relationship to Ovarian Development (96-08, Year 1 of 2)

J. Kunkel, Department of Biology, UMass-Amherst

An immunological assay will be developed for Atlantic cod vitellogenin and the derived lipovitellin in order to establish an accurate method for aiding the determination of spawning status, egg quality, and egg viability. The antiserum will be used to measure the vitellogenin titer in female serum and epidermal mucus and the lipovitellin content of ovulated eggs as well as pelagic larvae. The vitellogenin serum and mucus titer of individual females will be correlated with the maternal age, size, and histological measure of the state of maturity of her ovary. Particular emphasis will be placed on studying where the Georges Bank stock fits among cod stocks in the 35-65 cm "normal" age/size of females undergoing ovarian maturation. With these measurements it will be possible to assess the reproductive maturity of the female and the health and viability of her eggs and potential developing embyros.

 

 

ONGOING PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH BASE FUNDING

Four studies initiated in 1994 and 1995 are beginning their final year of funding (94-04, 94-09, 95-09, and 95-10). Another study initiated in 1994 (94-07) is in its final year, but is receiving no additional funding in 1996.

 

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

F. Juanes, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

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 3 of 3)

R. M. Muth, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

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 3 of 3)

W.W. Nawar, Department of Food Science, UMass-Amherst

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.

 

Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Winter Flounder (95-09, Year 2 of 2)

J. Newsted, Environmental Sciences Program, UMass-Amherst

To date, the possible reproductive consequences of estrogen functions in wild fish populations that are altered by the presence of contaminants has not been fully investigated. Thus, two major goals of this research are: (1) to evaluate and characterize the relationship between modifying factors such as sex, age, and reproductive status on biomarkers used as measures of endocrine disruption in a control (uncontaminated) population; and (2) to evaluate the relationship between environmental contaminants believed to alter the function of the endocrine systems via the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor relative to contaminants that can act directly through the estrogen receptor. The research will be coordinated with the ongoing winter flounder project of NEFSC in Long Island Sound.

 

Introduction of Metals into the Marine Food Web - Analytical Methods Development (95-10, Year 2 of 2)

J. Tyson and P. Uden, Department of Chemistry, UMass-Amherst

The investigators will develop an analytical chemistry methodology that is needed to support a study of the uptake of metals by plankton. The study is a collaboration among scientists at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Rutgers University, and the NEFSC Howard Laboratory. Primary approaches to development of the methodology will consist of flow-based separation methodologies to achieve sampling, concentration, separation, speciation, and full characterization, and will be applied in conjunction with atomic spectrometric quantification and other appropriate methods.

 

 

NEW PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH EXTRA-CURRICULAR FUNDING

Three projects are being initiated in 1996 with extracurricular support from the NMFS Northeast Regional Office (96-10), the NOAA Sea Grant Program (96-11), and the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (96-13).

 

Fishery Management Internships (96-10, Year 1 of 1)

J. Boreman, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the Fisheries Management Division, NMFS Northeast Regional Office)

Four internships were developed with the Fisheries Management Division offices in Gloucester, MA, for UMass-Amherst upperclass students. The student interns are responsible for assisting in an outreach effort by providing information to the public as appropriate concerning fishery management regulations. They are also responsible for reviewing applications for vessel permits to determine a vessel's eligibility for fishing under the imposed moratorium. Specific responsibilities include: permit qualification reviews, answering phone calls and meeting with industry members to explain the new requirements, writing letters and reports, record keeping, and other office support functions.

 

School Structure and Individual Feeding Behavior of Bluefin Tuna (96-11, Year 1 of 2)

F. Juanes, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the NOAA Sea Grant Program through the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

This study will test the hypothesis that bluefin tuna exhibit rigid, predictable three-dimensional relationships when schooling, and will quantify such relationships using digitized video images of captive schools. Selectivity for prey species and size will also be examined, as will the feeding mechanics (distance, velocity, and direction of prey attacks, handling time per item, and attack success rate) by analysis of the video images. Information developed through the study will enable conclusions to be drawn concerning the feasibility of determining the total biomass of bluefin schools based on aerial photographs of their surface structure, and whether bluefin schools are strongly influenced by specific feeding mechanics.

 

A Baseline Study of the Northeast Hook, Small Trawler, and Charter Boat Fisheries (96-13, Year 1 of 1)

D. Georgianna, Economics Department, UMass-Dartmouth

(funding provided by the Fisheries Economics Branch, NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center)

This project is part of a cooperative study being conducted by the University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, and Rutgers University to develop a data collection system that will become part of the core statistics collected through NMFS for use in the assessment of fishery management issues and other fishery economics research needs. UMass-Dartmouth is responsible for the hook fisheries; the University of Rhode Island is responsible for small trawlers and the design of a prototype fishing vessel simulator; and Rutgers is responsible for party and charter vessels. Principal investigators from each university are responsible for the survey design, sampling scheme, and other design elements of their assigned fishery. They are also responsible for data collection for all project fisheries in their area following the design developed for each fishery.

 

 

ONGOING PROJECTS SUPPORTED WITH EXTRA-CURRICULAR FUNDING

Limits to Recovery of Shortnose Sturgeon Populations (95-11, Year 2 of 3)

J. Boreman, Graduate Program in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the NMFS Office of Protected Species)

The purpose of this study is to integrate life history strategy, genetics, and habitat preference and use into criteria for determining the limits to which shortnose sturgeon populations along the Atlantic coast can be expected to recover. Since little data are available on shortnose sturgeon, as compared to other, more abundant estuarine species, theoretical approaches will be combined with empirical ones to develop standards that can be incorporated into the species recovery plan now being prepared by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

 

A Simulation of Predation Effects on Out-Migrating Atlantic Salmon Smolts in the Merrimack River Estuary (95-13, Year 2 of 2)

F. Juanes, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the Population Dynamics Branch, NEFSC, NMFS)

The project involves a review and compilation of information on factors potentially affecting survival of smolts entering the Merrimack River estuary, such as seasonal variation in potential fish predator numbers; size, diets, and consumption rates of predators; variation in timing and numbers of smolts passing the Essex dam; smolt residence time in the estuary; and seasonal variation in water temperature and flow through the estuary. The investigators will use the historical data to examine the relationship between rates of return of known-age salmon and seasonal variation in water temperature and flow rates. They will develop a simulation model to investigate variation in smolt survival relative to abiotic factors and characteristics of smolt and predator populations, and use the factors explaining variation to predict predation and develop management strategies for restoration.

 

PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED IN 1996 OR EARLY 1997

A number of projects supported with CMER funds in previous years are now completed, or are in the process of being completed either in 1996 or early 1997. Projects funded since the CMER Program began in 1989 is provided in Appendix IV, and summaries of projects completed prior to 1996 are provided in Appendix V.

 

Finfish Discard Mortality in the Gulf of Maine Small-Mesh Shrimp Fishery (91-05, Completed in March 1996)

M. R. Ross, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the Population Dynamics Branch, NEFSC, NMFS)

The short-term mortality of finfish discards in the northern shrimp fishery of the Gulf of Maine is being investigated. The study focuses on species selected by the Principal Investigator and personnel of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center based upon presence as discards and importance in supporting directed fisheries. Variables that might influence survival of discards include duration of tow, time on deck, size of fish, and air and water temperatures. Such variables will be identified and assigned a priority. Highest priority variables will be tested on board cooperating vessels to determine their importance in survival of discarded fish. Studies aboard a commercial shrimp vessel and during the annual shrimp survey conducted by the State of Maine.

 

Habitat Requirements of Important Fish Species Inhabiting the Hudson River Estuary (95-01, Completed in May 1996)

J. Boreman, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

(funding provided by the NMFS Office of Habitat Protection)

The purpose of this study is to assemble available information sources from the open literature, gray literature, and private collections that relate to understanding habitat requirements of eleven important fish species inhabiting the Hudson River estuary: striped bass, white perch, American shad, alewife, blueback herring, Atlantic tomcod, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, largemouth bass, bluefish, and bay anchovy. The assembled data base will be used to assess the feasibility of a full-scale study of the habitat requirements of the species in anticipation of a major habitat restoration program that will occur in the estuary.

 

Biology of the Longhorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus (93-02, To Be Completed in December 1996)

M. R. Ross, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

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, To Be Completed in December 1996)

H. O. Hultin, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, UMass Marine 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.

 

Sorting and Identification of Benthic Grab Samples from the Hudson River (95-12, To Be Completed in December 1996)

J. Boreman, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

During the summer of 1995 a project was undertaken on the Hudson River to identify areas of concentrations of juvenile shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon. In association with sampling for juvenile sturgeon, benthic grab samples were taken to determine if areas of sturgeon concentration are associated with certain food organisms. The sorting and identification of organisms in the grab samples was not funded by the sponsor of the sturgeon project (The Hudson River Foundation), but the information obtained will be key in testing the hypothesis that the summer distributions of the two sturgeon species is based on food supply.

 

Seabird Entanglement by Commercial Fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (93-01, to be completed in January 1997)

C. R. Griffin, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, UMass-Amherst

There is increasing concern about seabird mortality associated with commercial fishing operations. Relatively little research has been conducted on seabird mortality in U.S. waters off the Atlantic coast. While some of the data on seabird mortality in commercial fishing gear has been summarized by the NEFSC, detailed analyses are lacking. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the quantity and quality of information available from the NEFSC relating to the extent of seabird entanglement in northwestern Atlantic domestic and foreign fisheries. This will be accomplished using the existing NMFS data bases to examine the catch of marine birds; particular attention will be on species composition of catches, sources of temporal variability of catches, and relationships of the catch with the various fisheries. This analysis will help determine whether there are sufficient data to justify a larger-scale study. Additionally, the project will provide NEFSC with information to evaluate the effectiveness of their protocol for collection of bycatch data on seabirds.

 

 

CMER-SPONSORED THESES AND DISSERTATIONS

CMER-SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS: 1995-1996

CMER-SPONSORED PRESENTATIONS: 1995-1996