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September 2005

• Final Report to NMFS/CRPP (MS Word doc, with pictures, 4.1 MB (Big!))

• Final Report to NMFS/CRPP (MS Word doc, no pictures, 271 kb)

• Final Report to NMFS/CRPP (PDF file, with pictures, 2.8 MB (Big!))
• Final Report to NMFS/CRPP (PDF file, no pictures, 210 kb)

October & November 2004
 

• DMR has tagged 8,130 cod in 2004.  The September-November contribution to that total is summarized in the table below.

• Cod catches have been very spotty this fall.  Trips have found little to tag in the Fippennies and Cashes Ledge areas and have had to settle for slightly better catches in areas like Sagadahoc Ridge or Platts Bank.  Cod were very scarce downeast, both in the more offshore, Hague line areas and the more nearshore, Mt. Desert Rock grounds.  Scheduling and duration of trips were also hampered by stormy fall weather.

• The October 6-8 trip to Jeffreys Ledge is notable for the large number of recaptures (25).  Of these 25, apparently 10 were tagged by DMR in late November 2003 and 7 were tagged on different trips in March-September 2004, all in the same general area.

• Susan Haley, Area Cod Tagging Coordinator based in Portland, left her position in early November and is now working in the NMFS/REMSA commercial catch sampling program at the Portland Fish Exchange.

     DMR cod tagging summary (Sep-Nov 2004): 

August & September 2004
  

• DMR cod tagging has yielded 5,952 cod tagged in 2004 to date.

• Cod tagging in our more southwesterly tagging areas was suspended in early August due to warm surface temperatures.

• Only around 340 cod have been tagged from the Downeast tagging area this year.  The cod have just not shown up in this area.

• We anticipate frequent tagging trips through mid-November throughout eastern and western areas.

 DMR cod tagging summary (Aug-Sep 2004): 

June & July 2004

• Cod tagging this year to date has yielded 4,641 fish tagged over 37 vessel days. Cod catches have mostly been pretty low. 

• Our largest trip this year was in early June, yielding 1,124 cod tagged over 3 days, mostly in the southern end of Bigelow Bight. 

• Cod did not begin to show in large numbers off of Maine until early July when there was a spurt off of Portland. Weather and vessel availability were spotty during this period, so we did not tag a very high number. We were fishing on the Tanta Ground, however, on 7/12 when a 20 minute tow yielded about 9,000 lbs. of cod. The captain did not want to bring the net on board for fear of killing lots of fish. Therefore almost all were released without being tagged. A most unfortunate situation since previous and subsequent tows did not yield exceptionally high numbers. Captain was also reluctant to tow that exact area again for fear of another similar haul.  

• The fish we are seeing are big, and many recently have been full of spawn. We have tagged 2 fish of at least 130 cm, which are record-breaking fish for the Northeast Regional Cod Tagging program. 

• We have worked a bit in the nearer shore Downeast, and found virtually nothing as of last week. Still have yet to send anybody out toward Hague Line, until we are more confident there may be fish.

April & May 2004 
 

• Tagging for 2004 began with an April 16-19 trip to Jeffreys Ledge, yielding 367 fish tagged (an earlier trip to Jeffreys in March was ended early due to illness and lack of fish).

• To date in 2004, we have tagged 1,028 cod over 13.5 vessel-days.

• The fishing captains we have been in contact with have not been reporting large numbers of cod.  We hope more cod will start to be seen as water temperatures rise.

• Our vessel availability was very limited in March-April as many vessel owners expressed their intent to utilize all of the days-at-sea that they could prior to May 1.

• We are in the process of recruiting two new vessels to fish the more nearshore grounds off eastern Maine.  Only three draggers from downeast Maine now actively target groundfish.

Summary of 2004 Maine DMR cod tagging to date (below). 

February and March 2004 

A meeting was held on February 4 for all of the fishermen participating in our cod tagging project.  This meeting included a review of last year’s tagging and was an opportunity to discuss our strategy for Year 2.  Prior to the meeting, the fishermen were sent a questionnaire to get their opinions on how things went last year, as well as to solicit any suggestions or concerns on such topics as tagging areas and bycatch.  The meeting was well attended, lively and very productive.   

Seven of the vessels we used last year will be involved again this year.  We are recruiting two new vessels to work in the more nearshore areas downeast. 

In early March, Kevin Kelly and Susan Haley attended the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockport to represent DMR’s role in the cod tagging program.  A presentation was given at the Friday afternoon session on the NRCTP.  A DMR cod tagging poster was displayed and program pamphlets were also available at the Forum. 

Our first trip since December, scheduled for March 16, was postponed due to poor weather conditions. This trip was planned to scout for cod on the northern section of Jeffreys Ledge and possibly Platts Bank.  This trip has been rescheduled for March 18.
  

December 2003 & January 2004: 

• Fall tagging picked up again after a multi-day trip to Jeffreys Ledge at the end of November yielded 1,337 cod over 3 days. Two subsequent day trips to Jeffreys Ledge yielded 193 cod (Nov 26th, trawl) and 14 cod (Dec 9th, hook) respectively.  Sea conditions and extreme cold temperatures have prevented tagging since Dec 9th.  We are eager to resume tagging in February, conditions allowing.
   

• We are pleased to introduce Kerrie O’Donnell as the new coordinator for the eastern sector.  She is stationed in Boothbay Harbor and will be assuming all of the duties of Amy Winkle, the former coordinator.
   

• The decision has been made to merge Area 1 and Area 2. These area designations will no longer be used. The two coordinators are working together to coordinate all of the DMR tagging trips.
   

• All data from our trips has been entered into the database and are pending approval from GMRI. No cod have been tagged to date in 2004.
   

• To date, 11,606 cod have been tagged by DMR and 161 DMR tags have been returned.
   

October & November 2003: 

• Fall tagging got off to a promising start in mid-September.  Following this, however, weather conditions began to deteriorate and fish became difficult to find.  Late September through mid-November were marked by storms, rough sea conditions and relatively little sign of cod.
   

• Amy Winkle, the Area 2 coordinator, left her position in early October. Susan Haley, the Area 1 coordinator, has assumed most of her duties. We expect to re-fill the position early next year.
   

• To date, 10,033 cod have been tagged by DMR and 141 DMR tags have been returned.

 
August & September 2003: 

• Area 1 - Cashes/Fippennies Ledge:

     There was no tagging done until mid-September due to higher surface temperatures.  Three trips were made in September yielding 819 tagged cod. 

• Area 2 – Downeast ME, inshore & offshore:

     Tagging efforts were focused in the eastern Gulf of Maine to the Canadian border during July and August where cod have historically been caught in summer and cooler water temperatures prevail.  There were 8 directed tagging trips: 1 offshore trawl trip, 3 day-trips by a hook vessel, 3 day-trips by an inshore trawler, and 1 offshore trip by a gillnet vessel. Our best success was a 4 day offshore trip to the Grand Manan area yielding 1,367 tagged cod.

     The use of a gillnet vessel was not in our original plans, but discussions with fishermen prompted us to try a gillnetter as there may have been cod in bottom areas more amenable to gillnets over trawlers.  Gillnets set in historically productive cod grounds downeast produced few cod on this trip, however. 

• A large part of the summer has been involved with outreach activities. These include visits with headboat and charter captains and commercial fishing establishments such as lobster dealers and fish piers. We also visited with both recreational and commercial fishing individuals and groups about the program.
   

• We have posted publicity materials at marinas, fuel docks, tackle shops and boat launches where recreational fishermen are likely to be landing groundfish. Articles have been placed in the Maine Sunday Telegram and the CCA newsletter.  NOAA weather radio began a public service broadcast in early August alerting fishermen to report tagged cod.
   

• Amy Winkle, the Area 2 coordinator will be leaving the program in early October.  DMR and GMRI are taking the necessary steps to re-fill this position.  Susan Haley, the Area 1 coordinator, will take on this area.
   

• To date 9,080 cod have been tagged by DMR and 92 DMR tags have been returned.

June & July 2003: 

• Area 1 - Cashes/Fippennies Ledge:

     Cod movements this spring seemed delayed, possibly due to low temperatures, and may have contributed to the slow start. However, success increased dramatically from late June onwards as fish were located along some near- to mid-shore coastal areas. Our daily average of tagged cod went from 89 fish/day before June 20th to 628 fish/day between June 20th & July 1st. 

     Offshore trips in early July did not yield good numbers of cod and the water temperature quickly became too high, jeopardizing the survivability of the cod. Tagging will resume when water temperatures have cooled, probably in September. 

• Area 2 – Downeast ME, inshore & offshore:

     Only two trips so far have been undertaken, as fishermen have not yet reported large numbers of cod. An offshore trip and an inshore trip were made in mid-June. These yielded low numbers of cod. Tagging trips are expected to increase in July as cod become more abundant. Day trips with hook and trawl vessels are scheduled throughout July.

• To date, 6,740 cod have been tagged by DMR and 20 DMR tags have been returned.

 
March, April & May 2003: 

• DMR’s tagging locations are divided into two different areas. Susan Haley coordinates trips for Area 1 out of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in Portland.  Amy Winkle coordinates trips for Area 2 out of the DMR in Boothbay Harbor.
   

• Additional on-board tagging technicians have been recruited and hired for the program by GMRI.
   

• Area 1 - Cashes/Fippennies Ledge:

     Four commercial trawl vessels and one backup have been recruited for directed cod tagging trips.  Tagging operations began on 4/24/03.  Two trips have been undertaken in this area, both resulting in very low catch rates. 

• Area 2 – Downeast ME, inshore & offshore:

     Proposals for Area 2 were received in late April 2003.  Six vessels were selected, 5 trawlers and 1 longliner, as well as 1 backup vessel.  Tagging in Area 2 will begin in late May or June. 

• To date, 76 cod have been tagged by DMR.