DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF UNDERUTILIZED TRAWL FISH IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC BIGHT
R. A. Low, Jr. G. F. Ulrich F. Blum
'.
Marine Resources Research Institute South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department Charleston, South Carolina 29412
Technical Report Number
July 1982 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT ...... 1
PREFACE ...... l
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... • . . . . • • • . • . • • • • ...... • . . . . • . • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • • • • • 1
INTRODUCTION. • • • • . . • • • . . . . . • . • • • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • . • • . . . • . . • • • • • • . • • . . • 1
GROUNDFISH COMPOSTION BY DEPTH AND AREA. . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . . . . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2
DESCRIPTIONS OF MAJOR UNDERUTILIZED SPECIES ..•.••..••....•.• , • . . • . . • • • • • • • . • . • . • • • • • . • • • • 14
CONCLUSIONS...... 25
LITERATURE CITED • ....•• , • • • • • • • • . . . . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • . . . • • • • • • • • • • • 29 FIGURE CAPTIONS
FIG. 1. Minimum stock estimates of demersal teleosts over sand-mud bottom between C. Fear and C. Canaveral in 9-366 m (from Wenner et al. 1979a, b, c, d, 1980, unpublished~ data).
FIG. 2. Seasonal composition of MARMAP d~mersal trawl catches (unpublished MARMAP data).
FIG. 3 . Length distribution of southern porgy (from Wenner et al. 1979a, b, c, d, 1980).
FIG. 4. Length distribution of orange f ilefish (from Wenner et al. 1979b' c, d).
FIG . 5. Length distribution of planehead filefish (from Wenner et al. 1979a, b , c) . .
FIG. 6. Length distribution of inshore l i .zardfish (from Wenner et al. 1979a, b, 1980).
FIG. 7. · Length distribution of spotted hake (from Wen ner et al. 1979a, b, d).
FIG. 8. Length distribution of butterfish (from Wenner et al. 1979b, d) .
FIG. 9. Length distribution of Spanish sardines (from Wenner et al. 1979a, c, 1980).
FIG. 10. Length distribution of round herring (from Wenner et al. 1979b, d, 1980). LIST OF TABLES
Page
1. Most abundant species by weight in 1974 - 1975 South Carolina shrimp trawl catches
on a monthly basis...... • • • . • . • • • . • • • . • • • • . • • • . . . • • • • • . • . • • • . . • . • • . • . . . 6
2. MARMAP inshore catch rates (kg/hr) of fish in July-September 1980 and April- June
1981, using 40/60 4-seam shrimp trawls from a double-rigged 22-m shrimp boat...... 7
3. Dominant demersal teleosts by weight in MARMAP demersal trawl catches...... 9
4. Major findings of early trawl surveys in the South Atlantic Bight in depths of 55 m...... 13
5. MARMAP live-bottdm trawl results for three surveys...... 15
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
1. Minimum stock estimates of demersal teleosts over sand-mud bottom between C. Fear
and C. canaveral in 9-366 m...... 3
2. Seasonal composition of MARMAP demersal trawl catches...... 4
3. Length distribution of southern porgy . ... • • ..••.• • •. , •• .. • • •.• • • ...... •...• ; ..••.•• , 17
4 . Length distribution of orange file fish.. . . • . . • . . • • • • • . . . . . • . • ...... • . . . . . 19
5. Length distribution of planehead filefish ...... 20
6. Length distribution of inshore lizard fish...... • • • • • . • . . • • . . . • • • • • . 22
7. Length distribution of spotted hake...... • ...... • • . . . • • ...... 23
8. Length distribution of butterfish...... • . • • . . . . • . . • . . . . . • . • . . . . • ...... • ...... 24
9. Length distribution of Spanish sardines...... • • . • • . • . . • . • . • • . • . . . . • . . • ...... • . • . • • 26
10. Length distribution of round herring...... 27 1
Abstract ment Program (MARMAP) of the Marine Resourc es Research Institute for their assistance in Underutilized fish resources avail providing access to unpublished data. abl~ to demersal trawling in the South Atlantic Bight include (1) demersal fin fishes , (2) pelagic speci es, and (3) de Introduction mersal elasmobranchs. Brief descrip tions of species and size composition, The National Marine Fisheries Service, relative availability , geographic range, in the 1977 draft Fisheries Development in and depth distribut ion are provided for the United States, i ndicated that the poten each component. tial annual production of trawl groundfish in the southeast might r each 1. 5 million met The demersal f inf ish complex inshore ric tons (mt) . Such a resource could provide of the shelf break is dominated by a few alternative opportunities for vessels present species charact erized by small individual ly equipped for foodf ish trawling and shrimp size , limited availability, and wide dis ers seeking additional income during the off persal. These fishes include the south season. To i nvestigate the potential of this re ern porgy (St enotomus aculeatus), orange source, the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries De filefish (Aluterus schoepfi), planehead velopment Foundation contracted the Marine filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) , sand Resources Center of the South Carolina Wild perch (Diplectrum formosum), and lizard life and Marine Resources Department. Objec fishes (Synodus spp. ) . Trawlable pelagic tives were to (1) describe underutilized de species, which include the r ound scad mersal fish resources of the South Atlantic (Decapterus punctatus) , Spanish sardine Bight; (2) evaluate their development poten (Sardinella aurita) , and butterfish tial r elative to (a) abundance, (b) availa (Peprilus tr~us) , appear to occur bility, (c) allowable level of exploitation , in small, widely dispersed Schools in and (d) suitability for harvesting; and (3) shore of the shelf break. The bulk of assess relationships with co- occur ring stocks the biomass taken in research surveys i n and with the habitats t hat affect their utili coa~tal ~aters consisted of elasmobranchs, zation. primarily large stingrays (Dasyatis spp. ) . The total amount of available fish de This report is a review of scientific pub creased with increasing depth. The extent lications, trade journals, cruise reports, and of resources deeper than 200 m is not well unpublished survey data of state and federal documented, although some survey results agencies. Consideration was l imited to (1) de suggest the presence of substantial quan mersal teleosts , (2) t rawlable pelagic species, tities of butterfish and round herring and (3) demersal elasmobr anchs. Composition (Etrumeus teres). and distri bution of groundfish in the South Atlantic Bight have been i nvestigated in sur veys dating back to at least 1950 (.Powell 1950; Preface Cummins et al. 1962; Struhsaker 1969; Wilk and Silverman 1976; Wenner et al . 1979a , b, c, d, This study was initiated with support 1980). These s urveys employed numerous types from the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries of otter trawls in depths to 400 m. Recent Development Foundation under contract foreign s urveys, targeted a t squid, have ex GASAFDFI No. 11-09-27613. Preliminary r e plored greater depths (Massey and Lacroix 1977; sults and our interpretation of them as Gutherz et al. 1978; National Marine Fisheries they relate to the development potential Service 1979) . The diversity of sampling gear of the resources are contained in a con permits an evaluation of the kinds of fish avail tract report fil ed in October, 1980. Some able to trawls when the data are pooled over additional information tas becQme and) able time. It is impossible, however, to evaluate since then. This report consists of an long-term trends i n relative species composition updated r eview of available factual infor and abundance because there are no synoptic ob mation r egar ding aspects of the life his servations using standardized gear and proce tory, distribution, and catchability of dures within any area or depth zone. All stock the resources that affect their develop estimates a r e based on data collected since ment potential. Transformation of such 1972; their status relative to historic popula informati on into an assessment of practi tion levels is not known. cal possibilities for commercial utiliza tion is an intuitive , s ubjective, and some Practical interest can be directed at (l) what speculative process beyond the scope a complex of species within a particular depth of this report. Our views in that regard range o·: (2) a par ticular species throughout are expressed i n t he contract repor t. its ran&e . In the f irst section below, the spe cies associations in each depth zone are de scribed by area and habitat, with availability Acknowledgements and stock size being considered for the ent ire complex. Depth strata were 9-18 m, 19-27 m, We are grateful to Dr. Roger Anderson 28-55 m, 56-110 m, 111-183 m, and 184-366 m. and the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries These correspond to six habitats having the Development Foundation for their initial following principal characteristics: support. We also thank the per sonnel of the Marine Resources Monitoring and Assess- 2
level. Their estimate is for the Gulf of Depth Surface Mexico and South Atlantic Bight combined and Habitat Range(m) Area (km2)a refers primarily to the incidental catch of fish by shrimpers.
Coastal 0-18 18,083 (9-18 m) The trend in abundance of demersal tele osts (not including pelagics, elasmobranchs , Open-shelf "19-27 16,100 stocks inshore of 9m, and stocks over live-bot tom) is illustrated in Fig.l. These estimates 28-55 22 , 367 are from data collected by the Marine Resources Research Institute under contract to the Nat1on Live-bottom 18-55 6,524b al Marine Fisheries Service. The estimates for summer 1977 , fall 1978, and summer 1979 include Shelf-edge 56- 110 4 , 775b an average value (697 mt) for the 1984- 366 m stratum, since no sampling was done there. The Lower -shelf 111- 183 3, 615b slope (-2. 368; 95% CL -0.768, - 3.968) of the trend line differ s significantly from 0 at the Slope 184-366 9. 724b 95% level (t = 3.412). The rel ative contribu tion of demersal teleosts to total fish biomass (in t.he survey catches) is indicated in Fig. 2. Habitat Physical Feat ures Combs, Inc. (1978) estimated the potential increase in annual production of herring- like Coastal Smooth, sandy-mud bottom; fishes (clupeids, engraulids, and carangids) at unstable thermal structure more than 800,000 mt for the southeast (includ ing the Gulf of Mexico). Spanish sardines (Sar Open-shel f Smooth sand bottom; rela dinel la aurita) , round scad (Decapterus puncta tively stable t hermal tus), and round herring (Etrumeus teres) are structure occasionally taken in bottom trawl~here are no valid stock estimates for these species in the South Atlantic Bight as a whole. Pelagic Live- bottom Small areas of broken re species r epresented < 15% of the total fish bio l i ef with a sessil- inver mass of MARMAP trawl catches. t ebrate fauna Preci se stock estimates for demersal elas Shelf-edge Smooth to highly broken mobr anchs also have not been calculated . Elas bot tom; thermal structure mobranchs comprised 50- 65% of the total fish vari able biomass in MARMAP catches, most of this being attributable to small numbers of large sting Lower-shelf Smooth mud bottom rays (Dasyatis centroura)
Slope Smooth mud bottom Nearl y all of the current harvest of groundfish inshore of 18m consists of inci dental catch from the shrimp fishery . Since Wenner et al. (1979a) and Barans ~rom Field' s (1907) report, the federal government, and Burrell (1976) state agencies, and shrimp indust ry have sought bCape Fear to Cape Canaveral ways to profitably utilize this catch. The re gional shrimp management plan (Eldridge and Gold Struhsaker (1969) described the five shal stein 1975) noted that overboard disposal of this lower habitats and their associated fish fish is a problem and recommended t hat " ... meth fauna . Wenner et al. (1979a) described ods should be devised to utilize the incidental the slope habitat. Oceanographic descrip catch for the good of the industry." Twenty tions are contained in Mathews and Pashuk years ago, the estimated annual incidental fish (1977, 1982) and Stefansson and Atkinson catch in the South Atlantic· Bight was 17 ,000- (1967). 18 ,000 mt (Lunz 1960) . Keiser (l9.77) calculated an average annual figure of 31 , 545 mt from 19.73- Section 2 consists of brief descrip 1975. More recent estimates are not available. tions of life history aspects, size compo sition, and relative availability of major Keiser (1977) prepared area- by-area esti species. These are not intended to be com mates of incidental fish catches. His estimates prehensive and are limited to factors having (in mt) for North Carolina were: a dir.ect impact on exploitation potential. Year Lower Limit Mean Upper Limit 1973 3, 914 9,209 24 ,174 Groundfish Composition by Depth and Area 1974 6,536 15,379 40,370 1975 3,669 8,632 22,660 Bullis and Carpenter (1968) estimated that the U. S. Atlant ic coast south of Cape About 5% was landed for market. Estimates of Hatteras has a potential annual production catch rates are not available . Wolff (1972 esti of about 1.3 million mt of industrial fish. mates that 37,544 mt of fish were discarded by Combs, Inc. (1978) estimated that potential shrimp trawlers between July 1969 and June 1971 groundfish production could be increased and reported the following June-August 1970 com from 100,000 to 200,000 mt over the 1977 position for species comprising ~5% of the catch by weight: 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 Fall Spring Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Summer Winter Fa 11 Summer 1973 1974 1974 1974-75 1975 1975-76 1976 1976-77 1977 1977-78 1978 1979 5 Species % of weight of Monthly species composition is given in discarded fish Table. 1. Leiostomus xanthurus 39 Keiser's (1977) estimates (in mt) of Micropogonias undulatus 24 annual incidental fish catches by Georgia Orthopristis chrysoptera 8 shrimpers were: Dur ing the ear ly 1960 1 s, a small in Year Lower Limit Mean Upper Limit dustrial fishery in Raleigh Bay produced annual cat ches of 3,600-5,000 mt (Fahy 19.73 3,762 9,828 17,008 1966). Juvenile sciaenids and butterfish, 19-74 3,287 8 ,586 14,455 with individual mean weights January February March April Species Percent Species Percent Species Percent Species Percent Brevoortia tyrannus 24 Leiost omus xanthurus 53 Urophycis regia 21 Urophycis regia 26 Squal us acanthias 19 Mustelus canis 9 Raja eglanteria 15 Odontaspi s ~ 19 Raja eglanteria 14 Squalus acanthias 9 Leiostomus xanthurus 14 Leiostomus xanthurus 15 Symphurus plagiusa 6 Raja eglanteria 7 Brevoortia tyrannus 13 Rhinoptera bonasus 12 Dasyatis sabina 5 Dasyatis sabina 4 Mustelus canis - Symphurus plagiusa 6 May J une J uly August Species Percen.t Species Percent Species Percent Species Percent Leiostomus xanthurus 39 Leiostomus xanthurus 47 Leiostomus xanthurus 53 Leiostomus xanthurus 32 Brevoortia tyrannus 21 Brevoor tia tyrannus 11 Micropogonias undul atus 9 Micropogonias undulatus 17 Urophycis regia 9 Arius f elis 9 Brevoortia tyrannus 7 Brevoortia tyrannus 9 a- Stellifer lanceolatus 5 Micropogonias undulatus 8 Stell ifer lanceolatus 6 Cynoscion regalis 5 Menticirrhus ame~icanus 2 Stellifer lanceolatus 4 Menticirrhus americanus 4 Menticirrhus americanus 5 September October November December Species Percent Species Percent Species Percent Species Percent Leiostomus xanthurus 20 Rhinoptera bonasus 31 Brevoortia tyrannus 32 Brevoortia tyrannus 27 Micropogonias undulatus 11 Stell ifer lanceolatus 10 Leiostomus xanthurus 22 Menticirrhus americanus 18 Stellifer lanceolatus 10 Brevoortia tyrannus 8 Menticirrhus americanus 14 Stellifer lanceolatus 6 Mentici r r hus americanus 9 Menticirrhus americanus 8 Peprilus triacanthus 5 Dasyatis sabina 6 Chloroscombrus chrysurus 6 Leiostomus xanthurus 7 Cy:t\oscion ~egalis 3 Syin.IJ.hu.rur.,_ p_l~iusa 6 7 TABLE 2. MARMAP inshore catch ratesa (kg/hr) of fish in July-September 1980 and April- June 1981, using 40/60 4- seam shrimp trawls from a doubl e rigged 22- m shrimp boat. N ~ tows. 5- 10 m Depth Zone State Area 1980 N 1981 N Fl a. C. Canaveral-St. Augustine 132 2 St. Augustine- Cumberland Is. 52 8 244 3 Mean 92 Ga . Cumberland Is .~Sapelo Is. 46 11 153 6 Sapelo Is.-Savannah River 66 19 238 6 Mean 56 196 s.c. Savannah River- Charleston 36 18 362 9 Charleston-Winyah Bay 72 18 111 6 Winyah Bay-Frying Pan Shoals 84 10 194 9 Mean 64 222 N.C. Frying Pan Shoals-Cape Lookout 101 7 22 3 10- 20 m Depth Zone Fla. C. Canaveral- St. Augustine 104 16 102 12 St. Augustine-Cumberland Is . 136 8 68 6 Mean 120 85 Ga. Cumberland Is.-Sapelo Is. 16 7 37 6 Sapelo Is.-Savannah River 53 10 99 6 Mean 35 68 s .c. Savannah River-Charleston 54 11 54 9 Charleston-Winyah Bay 43 8 137 6 Winyah Bay-Frying Pan Shoals 34 8 97 9 Mean 44 96 N.C . Frying Pan Shoals-Cape Lookout 50 1 83 13 Cape Lookout-Cape Hatteras 46 6 Mean 65 aThese were calculated by adding the catches of both nets for each tow, then multi plying by three to obtain an hourly vessel catch rate. Then the mean of these values for each stratum and area was calculated. The means for each state were calculated as ~ area rates to equalize for the different numbers of tows in each area. N areas 8 in South Carolina. During both years 28-55 m 56- llO m and in both depth strata, catches con Aluterus schoepf i Syacium papillosum sisted primarily of small sciaenids, Diplectrum formosum Synod us spp. with Leiostomus xanthurus being the Stenotomus aculeatus dominant species. lll-183 m 184-366 m Since 1973, MARMAP has conducted Urophycis regia Urophycis regia numerous surveys over sand-mud bottom using a 3/4 scale Yankee No. 36 trawl MARMAP catch rates in kg/hr were: in a stratified (by depth) random sam pling design with tow duration of 30 minutes. Minimum estimatesl of the Depth Stratum (m) total weight (in mt) of demersal 9-18 19-27 28-55 teleosts based on catch rates in Wenner Fall 1973 (;] 69 ll et al. (1979a , b, c, d, 1980) and un Spring 1974 24 49 31 published MARMAP data are listed below: Summer 1974 24 31 ll Winter 1974- 75 8 30 27 Depth Stratum (m) Summer 1975 23 25 20 9-18 19-27 28-55 Winter 1975-76 29 24 53 Fall 1973 21,245 19,678 4 , 455 Summer 1977 14 15 22 Spring 1974 7,731 13,998 12 ,077 Wint er 1977-78 13 16 31 Summer 1974 7,620 8,888 4,476 Fall 1978 14 9 17 Winter 1974-75 2,567 8,451 10,613 Summer 1979 9 15 9 Summer 1975 7,215 6,910 7,867 Winter 1975-76 9,380 6, 720 20,859 _l_l56-llO_ lll- 183 184- 366 Summer 1977 4,544 "4 , 247 8,515 Fall 1973 13 8 Winter 1977-78 4,060 4 , 547 12,105 Spring 1974 33 9 5 Fall 1978 4,313 2 , 673 6,528 Summer 1974 8 6 1 Summer 1979 2,834 4 , 357 3,561 Winter 1974-75 14 18 6 Sununer 1975 8 6 1 56-llO lll-183 184- 366 Winter 1975-76 5 10 3 Fall 1973 ~ 8ll 1,427 Summer 1977 18 10 Spring 1974 2 ,801 591 872 Winter 1977-78 17 12 1 Summer 1974 672 367 204 Fall 1978 15 5 Winter 1974-75 1,163 l,ll7 944 Sununer 1979 17 17 Summer 1975 637 401 215 Winter 1975-76 429 656 519 Summer 1977 1,541 669 Catch rates for lar ger , more efficient trawls Winter 1977-78 1,410 747 during years covered by MARMAP surveys are Fall 1978 1,295 297 not available. Earlier survey efforts con Summer 1979 1,452 1,085 sisted of tows of variable durat ion using a variety of t rawls without any pre-determined sampling design (Powell 1950; Cummins et al. Conversation with MARMAP personnel 1962; Struhsaker 1969). The gear used in indicated that the fall 1973 values for these surveys was larger and of different de shallow strata were probably anomalously sign than the net used by MARMAP. Although high due to sampling artifacts (C. Wen data from these s urveys are of no value in ner, pers. comm.). With the fall 19.73 estimating stock size , they do provide insigh t observation deleted, the slope of the into catch rates. Principal findings of these regression of stock size on time for the surveys are summarized in Table 4. 9-18 m stratum does not differ signifi cantly from 0 (t = 1. 739). For the 19- Relatively l ittle exploratory demersal 27 m stratum, with the fall 1973 value trawling has been done in depths >110 m, other again deleted, the slope {-1.128) does than the work conducted by MARMAP. Powell differ significantly from 0 {t = 5.56). {lq50) reported very small catches off North The slopes for the 28-55 m, 56-110 m, Carolina. Struhsaker' s (1969) results for win and 111-183 m strata (-0.016, -0.05, ter and spring suggested the presence of con and 0.007, respectively) equate to 0. siderable quantities of spotted hake and but terfish off South Carolina and Georgia in 111- Wenner et al. {19.79a, b, c, d , 1980) 183 m of water. Soviet and Spanish stern give detailed descriptions of species trawlers have conducted recent surveys (al composition and fish assemblages charac though targeted at squid) in this depth range , teristic of each depth stratum (see Ta using large, commercial-type nets. A 30-min ble 3). Summing the ranks for each depth ute tow by the Soviets in 150 m of water off zone and assigning highest priority to Jacksonville, Fla. yielded a small fish catch the species with the most points, the consisting primarily of chub mackerel (Scomber dominant species are: japonicus) averaging 215nun total length (Mas sey and Lacroix 1977). The Spanish reported 9-18 m 19-27 m catch rates of up to 434 kg/hr of butterfish Stenotomus aculeatus Aluterus schoepfi Aluterus schoepfi Stenotomus aculeatus 1ALL MARMAP figures are based on transformed da Leiostomus xanthurus Diplectrum formosum ta and Bliss (1967) approximations of mean CPUE . TABLE 3. Dominant demersal teleosts by weight in MARMAP demersal trawl catches (from Wenner et al. 1979 a, b , c , d, 1980 and unpublished MARMAP data). Fall 1973 Spring 1974 Summer 1974 Depth % of Total % of Total % of Total Zone (m) Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight 9-18 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 54 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 48 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 30 Aluterus schoepfi 3 13 Aluterus schoepfi 3 19 Arius felis 3 14 Synodus foetens 2 6 Leiostomus xanthurus 2 11 Aluterus schoepfi 2 11 Leiostomus xanthurus 1 5 Synodus foetens 1 6 Q.!E_lectrum formosum 1 6 19-27 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 54 Aluterus schoepfi 3 38 Alut erus schoepfi 5 44 Haemulon aurol ineatum 2 10 Stenotomus aculeatus 2 36 Diplectrum formosum 4 11 Aluterus schoepfi 1 5 Diplectrum formosum 1 7 Stephanolepis hispidus 3 10 Stenotomus aculeatus 2 10 ~odus -foetens 1 6 28-55 Aluterus schoepfi 5 37 Stenotomus aculeatus 5 so Aluterus schoepfi 4 41 Diplectrum formosum 4 13 Aluterus schoepfi 4 10 Diplectrum formosum 3 22 \J:) Synodus foetens 3 12 Diplectrum formosum 3 7 Synodus foetens 2 15 Prionotus carolinus 2 7 Prionotus carolinus 2 6 Syacium ~illosum 1 5 Stephanolepis hispidus 1 5 Syacium ~illosum 1 5 56-110 Syacium papillosum 5 23 Synodus foetens 5 22 Trachinocephalus myops 4 19 Prionotus carolinus 4 11 Rhomboplites aurorubens 4 15 Synodus ~ 3 18 Synodus foetens 3 8 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 13 Calamus leucosteus 2 15 Pagrus pagrus 2 7 Syacium papillosum 2 10 Syacium papillosum 1 14 Serranus phoebe 1 6 Mullus auratus 1 5 111-183 Urophycis regia 3 62 Urophycis regia 4 30 Urophycis regia 1 63 Stenotomus aculeatus 2 9 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 25 Antigonia capros 1 7 Peristedion gracile 2 7 Mullus auratus 1 6 184-366 Urophycis regia 2 86 Urophycis regia 5 42 Helicol enus dactylopterus 3 27 Prionotus alatus 1 5 Citharichthys arctifrons 4 11 Laemonema barbatulum 2 25 Peristedion spp. 3 9 Chlorophthalmus agassizi 1 10 Polymixia lowei 2 8 Merlucci1;.:i albidus 1 5 TABLE 3. Continued. Winter 1974-75 Summer 1975 Winter 1975-76 Depth % of Total % of Total % of Total Zones (m) Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight 9-18 Pogonias cromis 6 31 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 55 Pogonias cromis 2 71 Aluterus schoepfi 5 11 Arius felis 2 11 Leiostomus xanthurus 1 16 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 10 Q!p_lectrum formosum 1 8 Menticirrhus americanus 3 9 Chaetodipterus faber 2 8 Synodus foetens~~~ 1 7 19-27 Stenotomus aculeatus 5 26 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 37 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 38 Aluterus schoepf i 4 20 Aluterus schoepfi 3 15 Diplectrum formosum 3 22 Leiostomus xanthurus 3 20 Diplectrum f ormosum 2 10 Synodus foetens 2 16 Diplectrum formosum 2 8 ~odus foetens 1 9 Aluterus sc}ioey_fi 1 15 Micropogonias undulatus 1 6 28-55 Aluterus schoepfi 4 46 Aluterus schoepfi 5 20 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 56 ""'0 Calamus nodosus 3 8 Synodus foetens 4 14 Aluterus schoepfi 2 11 Syacium papillosum 2 6 Diplectrum formosum 3 12 Chaetodipterus faber 1 10 Haemul on aurolineatum 1 5 Stenotomus aculeatus 2 7 Syacium papillosum 1 6 56-110 Stenotomus aculeatus 5 26 Syacium papillosum 4 29 Urophycis regia 5 19 Syacium papillosum 4 16 Synodus spp. 3 22 Syacium papillosum 4 18 Synodus foetens 3 7 Trachinocephalus ~ 2 13 Pagrus pagrus 3 10 Urophycis regia 2 7 Balistes capriscus 1 8 Calamus leucosteus 2 5 Lagodon rhomboides 1 6 Leiostomus xanthurus 1 5 111-183 Urophycis regia 4 32 Urophycis regia 3 22 Urophycis regia 4 37 Peristedion gracile 3 16 Antigonia capros 2 17 Leiostomus xanthurus 3 31 Polymixia lowei 2 ·13 Neomerinthe hemingwayi 1 8 Kathetostoma albigutta 2 9 Saurida normani 1 6 Sphoeroides pachygaster 1 7 184-366 Helicolenus dactylopterus 2 49 Urophycis regia 4 36. Urophycis regia 2 65 Urophycis regia 1 31 Merluccius albidus 3 14 Synagrops bella 1 21 Saurida normani 2 14 Laemonema barbatulum 1 12 TABLE 3. Continued Summer 1977 Winter 1977-78 Fall 1978 Depth % of Total % of Total % of Total Zone (m) Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight Species Rank Weight 9-18 Stephanolepis hispidus 5 16 Leiostomus xanthurus 5 33 Leiostomus xanthurus 5 19 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 13 Rhomboplites aurorubens 4 17 Larimus f asciatus 4 14 Diplectrum formosum 3 11 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 12 Diplectrum formosum 3 13 Syacium papillosum 2 9 Synodus spp. 2 9 Aluterus schoepfi 2 9 Prionotus carolinus 1 6 ~rilus triacanthus 1 5 Haemulon aurolineatum 1 7 19-27 Aluterus schoepfi 4 43 Aluterus schoepfi 3 64 Diplectrum formosum 2 56 Diplectrum formosum 3 21 Diplectrum formosum 2 12 Synodus spp. 1 16 Synodus spp. 2 13 Synodus spp. 1 10 Stephanolepis hispidus 1 10 28-55 Stephanolepis hispidus 5 25 Aluterus schoepf i 6 15 Aluterus schoepfi 4 22 Aluterus schoepfi 4 17 Leiostomus xanthurus 5 8 Diplectrum formosum 3 16 ...... Diplectrum formosum 3 9 Syacium papillosum 4 8 Stenotomus aculeatus 2 9 ...... Synodus spp. 2 9 Synodus spp. 3 8 Synodus spp. 1 6 Syacium papillosum 1 6 Stephanolepis hispidus 2 7 Diplectrum formosum 1 6 56-110 Syacium papillosum 2 71 Urophycis regia 3 55 Urophycis regia 4 21 Centropr istis ocyurus 1 5 Syacium papillosum 2 24 Centropristis ocyurus 3 9 Synodus spp. 1 5 Synodus spp. 2 8 Serranus notospilus 1 7 111-183 Urophycis regia 3 81 Urophycis regia 1 80 Peristedion gracile 2 6 Urophycis regia 1 29 Syacium papillosum 1 5 TABLE 3. Continued Summer 1979 Depth % of Total Zone (m) Species Rank Weight 9-18 Diplectrum formosum 4 21 Stenotomus aculeatus 3 20 Prionotus carol inus 2 6 Synodus spp. 1 5 19-27 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 56 Diplect rum formosum 3 13 Aluterus schoepfi 2 10 Synodus spp. 1 9 28-55 Stenotomus aculeatus 4 17 Synodus spp. 3 11 Diplectrum formosum 2 11 1--' S}' 111-183 Urophycis regia 2 29 Glossanodon pyginaeus 1 15 TABLE 4. Major findings of early trawl surveys in the South Atl antic Bight in depths to 55 m. Depth (m) Area Catch Rates Dominant Species Source 9-18 Onslow Bay 907-1,361 kg/hr Small sciaenids , grunts, porgies, Struhsaker Spanish mackerel, and flounders (1969) 19-25 North Carolina < 907 kg/hr Smal l croakers and butterfish St ruhsaker (1969) 26- 46 North Carolina 45-272 k~/tow Porgies, filefish, sea robins, Struhsaker lizardfish, flatfish (1969) 1,134-1,588 kg/tow Small por gies and puffers Struhsaker (occasional) (1969) South Carolina Up to 680 kg/tow Small porgies Powell (1950) 907-1,134 kg/tow Maximum, mean Small porgies Struhsaker I-' 159 kg/hr (1969) w N. E. Florida 159 kg/hr Small porgies and lizardfish Struhsaker average (1969) 40- 55 North Carolina Up to 1,814 kg/tow Pleanhead filefish (in 'spring only) Struhsaker (1969) Sout h Carolina Up to 4,082 kg/tow Planehead filefish (in spring only) Struhsaker (1969) Georgia High Pl anehead filef ish (in winter and Struhsaker spring) (1969) N.E . Florida 1,814-4,082 kg/tow PlQnehead filef ish (in winter and Struhsaker spring) (1969) 14 and 60 kg/hr of round herring off South ally associated with them. This led Miller Carolina, using the type of net employed and Richards (l980) to conclude that "esti in their West African hake fishery mates of reef fish biomass and production (Gutherz et al. 1978). should include areas of flat hard bottom as well as elevated bottom." Very little demersal trawling has been done in depths >184 m. Soviet catches were very small and consisted Description of Major Underutilized Species primarily of spotted hake and chub mack erel, the former averaging 199 mm total Our definition of "underutilized fishery length ·and the latter 215 mm (Massey and resource" is intended to conform with provi Lacroix 1977) . Spanish catches consist sions in the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and ed primarily of butterfish and round her Management Act of 1976 (PL 94-265), specifi ring, with one very large catch of the cally Sections 3(9) and 3(18)(B). Our inter latter species being reported off South pretation of "underutilized" is that , in the Carolina (Gutherz et al. 1978). In 1979, -absence of constraints imposed for economic or a West German stern trawler made 19 half social reasons or purposes of stock rehabili hour tows between Cape Hatteras and Cape tation, recent annual landings have been signi Canaveral in 500-1,000 m, using a large ficantly below MSY. The major demersal teleost demersal fish trawl. The net was set at species characteristic of the.various habitats random, rather than on fish traces. and depth zones discussed previously, trawlable Fish catches were insignificant and con pelagic species, and demersal elasmobranchs are sisted primarily of butterfish and sev briefly described. These descriptions include eral kinds of hake (National Marine Fish only those aspects relevant to increased utili eries Service 1979). zation. Commercial finfish trawlers have Species comprising the incidental catch from operated over offshore areas of hard S'lrimp ··.traw'.li.pg are not included. As Struhsaker and live-bottom since 1976 (Ulrich et (196q) noted, the shrimp by-catch consists pri al. 1976). Species belonging to the marily of juvenile food and recreational fishes. snapper- grouper complex occupying these Such fish are not underutilized in the sense of habitats are considered to be fully being underharvested. Fish in the shrimp by utilized by the South Atlantic Fishery catch represent a unique case in that they are Management Council (South Atlantic Fish underutilized because they are discarded, due ery Management Council 1982). Surveys principally to small individual size and low conducted with small-mesh research market value. trawls have documented the presence of other species of little or no present utilizat ion or economic value. Results Southern Porgy (Stenotomus aculeatus) of three MARMAP surveys are summarized in Table 5. Catch rates are for 10- Southern porgies occur throughout the minute tows (when tow duration was other South Atlantic Bight, a l though they are rela than 10 minutes, the catch rate was cal tively less abundant south of Brunswick, Geor culated as x 10). "Trashfish" ~tm+nu es . gia (Wenner et al. 1979a, b, c, d). During include species ot no economic value and spring, summer, and fall , most of the catch large elasmobranchs are not included. during research cruises has been taken inshore The number of tows per area in the 1979 of 28 m, while in winter the largest catches surveys ranged from three to eight. The have been in 18-55 m (Barans and Burrell 1976) . overall average composition of the catch Southern porgies are widely distributed over by weight was 79% "trashfish," primarily both sand and hard bottom (including live-bot S. aculeatus, which accounted for half tom) in association with sand perch (Diplectrum of the total catch. For the four reefs formosum), orange fil efish (Aluterus schoepfi), that were sampled in both April and Sep planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) , . tember, the catch rates and "trashfish" lizardfishes (Synodus spp. ), tomtates (Haemulon contribution were similar for both sea aurolineatum), and black sea bass (Centropristis sons. The overall average catch rate striata) (Wenner et al. 1979a, b, c , d, 1980). (mean of the 12 values listed) was 31. 4 Their density appears to be relatively greater kg/tow, equivalent to 188 kg/hr. over live-bottom, based on catch-per- unit-of effort (CPUE) observed during numerous trawl Derivation of even rough estimates surveys. Barans and Powles (1977) considered of stock size for species inhabiting southern porgies to be of possible forage value. hard and live-bottom by t he area-swept method is not practical, because of dif Length distribution is shown in Fig: 3. ficulties in defining the extent of the In winter and spring, the bimodal distribution habitat . Although estimates of live suggests the presence of at least two age groups. bottom area have been published (see, Most of the population consists of fish 100-180 for example, Barans and Burrell 1976), mm in fork length. Length tends to increase there is no single estimate that is gen with depth, fish >150 mm being most common deeper erally accepted. Continental Shelf than 28 m. Growth appears to be rapid, at least Associates (1979) concluded that pri early in life . mary and secondary reef species are found on flat , hard bottom as well as MARMAP catch rates and population estimates the more elevated substrate tradition- derived from them for sand bottom in 9-55 m are 15 TABLE 5. MARMAP live-bottom trawl results for three surveys (unpublished MARMAP data). May - June 1978 Day % ~l Night % ~ Reef Species Total Wt. ha Speci es Total Wt . ha 1 Stenotomus aculeatus 30 36.8 Stephanolepis hispidus 21 17.7 Haemulon aurolineatum 17 Haemulon aurolineatum 18 J Holacanthus bermudensis 15 Holacanthus bermudensis 12 2 Haemulon aurol ineatum 46 19.6 Haemulon aurolineatum 29 20.2 v· Balistes capriscus 21 Calamus leucosteus 16 Calamus leucosteus 6 Centropristis striata 14 3 Stenotomus aculeatus 77 56. l Stenotomus aculeatus 31 21.0 Holacanthus bermudensis 10 Centropristis striata 15 Haemulon aurolineatum 6 Haemulon aurolineatum 11 4 Stenotomus aculeatus 49 49.0 Stenotomus aculeatus 22 15. 0 Haemulon aurolineatum 14 Centropristis striata 19 Calamus leucosteus 13 Haemulon aurolineatum 17 (Day and night combined) 5 Holacanthus b~r_m_udensi_s 46 22 .7 Chromis enchrysurus 37 Rhomboplites aurorubens 6 6 Calamus leucosteus 41 17.4 Haemulon aurolineatum 15 Stenotomus aculeatus 11 April 1979 % Reef Mean kg/tow % Trashfish Species Total Wt. A 34.1 71 Stenotomus aculeatus 64 Calamus leucosteus 7 Archosargus probatocephalus 7 B 13.5 95 Stenot·omus aculeatus 45 Holacanthus bermudensis 11 Stephanolepis hispidus 7 c 22.9 78 Stenotomus aculeatus 68 Centropristis striata 7 Calamus leucosteus 4 D 21.0 72 Stenotomus aculeatus 43 Haemulon aurolineatum 13 Calamus leucosteus 10 83.1 94 Stenotomus aculeatus 43 ~ Aluterus schoepf i 28 Holacanthus bermudensis 10 llJ 18.l 71 Stenotomus aculeatus 73 Haemulon aurolineatum 8 Stephanolepis hispidus 7 15.3 62 Stenotomus aculeatus 43 Calamus leucosteus 17 Centroeristis striata 6 16 TABLE 5. Continued. % Reef Mean kg/tow % Trashfish Species Total Wt. September 1979 A 33.0 63 Stenotomus aculeatus 22 Centropristis striata 15 Calamus leucosteus 13 B 26.3 94 Stenotomus aculeatus 62 Haemulon aurolineatum 4 Aluterus schoepfi 4 1 c 24.9 88 Stenotomus aculeatus 61 ' Centropristis striata 6 -I Haemulon aurolineatum 5 D 23.3 68 Stenotomus aculeatus 21 Haemulon aurolineat um 11 Stephanolepis hispidus 7 61.1 89 Stenotomus aculeatus 84 Haemulon aurolineatum 2 Stephanolepis hispidus 1 1Total Mean Densi ty ,,. I 17 60 30 56-llOm N =367 N= 7,969 40 10 20 FALL f973 60 50 28-55m 40 N= 23,262 N=63 > 30 (_) z 20 w 10 => ~ OJ_---AL__l____...c:::::~--====~~ 0:: 50 LL SPRING 1974 19-27m N = 18,705 ..... 50 30 z 28-55m w N=44 (_) 30 0:: 10 w a.. 10 30 9-18m N = 326 30 19-27m N=548 10 10 WINTER 1974 30 N =6,864 N= 1,44: 2oJ __9_-_18 m~U-.---~:._.---. 0 1-111 50 100 150 200 250 10 FORK LENGTH (mm) SUMMER 1974 50 100 150 200 250 FORK LENGTH(mm) SUMMER 1975 18 shown below (Wenner et al. 1979a, b , c, inshore of SS m of water. Juveniles are d, 1980, unpublished MARMAP data}: pelagic and the adults occur in small aggre gations. Most individuals are fairly large Year Mean Mean and the length distribution (Fig. 4) sugge~t kg/hr il (mt) several age groups. No distinct trend in size with depth has been reported. Fall 1973 8 8, 000 Spring 1974 7 6 , SOO MARMAP catch rates and population esti Summer 1974 3 2,270 mates for sand bottom in 9-SS m between Cape Winter 1974- 7S 1 1,170 Fear and Canaveral are listed below (Wenner Summer 197S s S,300 et al. 1979a, b, c , d , 1980, unpublished MAR Summer 1977 4 3,660 MAP data): Winter 1977-78 1 1,170 Fall 1978 2 1,630 Year Mean Mean Summer 1979 4 4,170 kg/hr B (mt) Ninety percent confidence limits for these Spring 1974 6 S,780 population estimates (as well as for those Summer 1974 6 4,180 for other spec ies described in this sec Winter 1974-7S 4 4,170 tion) r ange from + 2S-SO% of the mean Summer 1977 8 7 ,890 .. values listed. - Winter 1977-78 18 17,490 Fall 1978 9 8,770 Powles and Barans (1980) reported that southern porgies occur singly or in We found no reference to large catches in sur smal l groups when over live-bottom and de veys using commercial-scale gear. rived an average density estimate of 737 kg/km2 . During ecological surveys con ducted for the Bureau of Land Management Planehead Filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) by the Marine Resources Research Institute catch rates have ranged up to 416 kg/10- Juveniles are found in the oceanic sargas minute tow over live-bottom (G. Sedberry, sum community (Berry and Vogele 1961) and in pers. comm.). The highest reported catch coastal grassbeds off south Florida (Low 1973) . rate for commercial-type gear (l~ Iceland Adults are widely distributed in the South Atlan trawl) was 680 kg/hr (Powell 19SO), al t ic Bight over the open-shelf (incl uding live though bottom type was not specified. bottom), primarily inshore of SS m. The length distribution (Fig. S) indicates that at least It is difficult to make a practical four or five age groups are r epresented (Wenner evaluation of the relative advantages of et al. 1979a). There is no well-defined rela trawling for southern porgies over sand tionship between length and water depth. vs. hard or live-bottom on the basis of catch rates alone. MARMAP catch rates MARMAP cat ch rates and population estimates over sand bottom were obtained with a for sand bottom are shown below (~enner et al. 3/4 Yankee No. 36 trawl, considered by 1979a, b , c, 1980, unpublished MARMAP data): mo~t knowledgeable observers to be a rela Year tively inefficient gear, particularly when Mean ~ean fished over live-bottom. Catch rates over kg/hr B (mt) live-bottom have ranged much higher, but Fall 1973 (9-110 m) < 1 890 are for more efficient gear (high-rise and Spring 1974 (9-llO m) < 1 790 fly nets) . Yet the density estimate, Summer 1974 (9- SS m) 1 890 based on visual observations, reported for Summer 197S (9-SS m) < 1 410 live-bottom is very low when compared to Summer 1977 (9- SS m) 6 6,200 these catch rates. Demersal trawling Winter 1977- 78 (9-SS m) ? 1,700 over live-bottom is a controversial issue Fall 1978 (9-SS m) < 1 330 and is opposed by many hook-and-line fish Summer 1979 (9-SS m) < 1 300 ermen (South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 1981). It would t he refore be dif These catch rates are in marked contrast to ficult to support a significantly expanded those (up to 4,082 kg/tow in spring 1964} re trawl fishery over this habitat. ported by Struhsaker (.1969) , although it should be noted that the gear used in the early survey The wide fluctuations in seasonal was more efficient than that employed by MARMAP population estimates (for sand bottom) re and sets were made directly on fish marks. ported by MARMAP suggest an unstable popu lation. Although age composition of t he southern porgy population is not known, a Sand Perch (Diplectrum f ormosum) short-lived species with highly-variable recruitment would e xhibit a trend i n abun Sand perch are ubiquitous to a depth of dance such as that noted for this species. SS m, occurring as solitary individuals or in small aggregations . Mean size tends to increase with depth, with an overall average fork l ength Orange Filefish (Aluterus schoepfi) of about 160 mm (Wenner et al. 1979a). This species is widely distributed MARMAP catch rates over sand bottom in 9-SS over the open-shelf (including live-bottom) m of water consistently ranged from 2-3 kg/hr. 19 ' 50 N = 237 30 10 SPRING 1974 :c Cf) LL LL 40 0 N = 167 0:: lLI 20 m ~ ::> z SUMMER 1974 20~~----~-=-1-27~1 --~~'---t-1~---,----y>---.:iA~j 150 225 300 375 450 525 600 .. TOTAL LENGTH(mm) WINTER 1974 20 201 ~ FALL 1973 30 N =514 >- (.) 10 z w :::> 0 SPRING 1974 w 0::: 60 LL 28-55m t- N=44 z 20 w A (.) 50 0::: w 19-28m a.. N=l,535 30 10 9-18m N= 299 I I 50 100 150 200 250 300 TOTAL LENGTH(mm) •I SUMMER 1974 21 Population estimates derived from them considered spotted hake to be of possible are as follows (Wenner et al. 1979a, b, forage value and we have frequently found c, unpublished MARMAP data). . them in tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleon ticeps. Year Mean a The sand perch population appears to be Fall 1973 110-366 2,170 one of the most stable components of the Spring 1974 9-366 < 1 660 sand bottom demersal toleost community. Summer 1974 9-366 18 Winter 1974-75 9-366 < 1 698 Winter 1977-78 9-110 1 1,510 Lizard fish.es (Synod us spp.) Summer 1979 28-183 4 2,150 Lizardf ish of several species are We have observed dense fish marks on the ubiquitous in the South Atlantic Bight. lower slope that we believe were spotted Inshore lizardfish · (S. foe.tens) occur hake. These marks are widely dispersed, from estuarine areas~to about ZOO m, however, and could easily be missed in a while offshore lizardfish 50 N =642 30 10 FALL 1973 50 56-llOm N = 165 30 ::c en LL. 10 LL. :L&J 2 0j 28-55 m ~ · .~ N=73 0 6l::::o~.6 ~ 20j ~ 1 9-27m ..J N=l55 z 0 /J 6. &...;.....~---- 30 9 - 18m N = 305 10 SPRING 1974 4 0 N =377 20 50 150 250 350 450 TOTAL LENGTH(mm) SUMMER 1975 23 30 N =1,544 10 FALL 1973 30 (.)>- N=430 z w :::> 0 w a:: LL 10 ..... z w (.) SUMMER 1974 a:: 184-366m ~4] N = 57 4] lll-183m ~~ /\. 56-llOm 4] ~N=220 201__ ~..___,..--..--'_....-,-~--.-~_11~_1m_so""T""1 ---. 50 150 250 TOTAL LENGTH(mm) WINTER 1974 60 184- 366m N=71 20 60 lll - 183m N=2,181 20 60 56-1 IOm > N=284 (.) ~ z 20 L&J ~ 40 9-ISm ~u..~ J~ /\-.. N = 79 o...J_...... ~~~-= :ir....1-.L.9-:t------. ~ SPRING 1974 ~ 50 56-366m 0:: N=l ,633 L&J a. 30 4 0 0-28m N=4,984 20 50 100 150 200 FORK L ENGTH(mm) WINTER 1974 25 Spanish sardines are widely distri Demersal Elasmobranchs buted in the South Atlantic Bigh.t inshore of 55 m (.Barans and Burrell 1976) and are Several species of demersal sharks, most abundant in summer and fall (Wenner skates, and rays are abundant over smooth, et al. 1979a).. It is likely that most of soft bottom inshore of 18 m, particularly the population off the Carolinas migrates north of Florida (C. Wenner, pers. comm.). south in late fall. Length distribution Elasmobranch.s typically comprised the bulk is shown in Fig. 9~ Low'·s (1973). obser of the biomass reported for MARMAP surveys, vations suggest that the fish. comprising most of the contribution being in the form the 60-100 mm group in fall 1973 repre ofa few very large stingrays (Dasyatis ~ sent young-of-the-year hatched that spring, ura).. Off South Carolina, schools of spiny while those in the 120-160 mm group are a dogfish (Squalus acanthias) appear along year older. The Spanish. sardine is a for the beach in early spring. Shrimpers occa age species (.Barans and Powles 1977). and sionally run into very large schools of commonly occurs with round scad. rays. Rough estimates of the total demer- sal elasmobranch population based on .MAR- MARMAP trawl catches of Spanish sar .MAP data range from 25,000 to 100,000 mt. dines are usually very small, with an occasional larger catch when a school is encountered. Because of this pattern, Conclusions population estimates cannot oe developed from these demersal trawl catch .rates. Coastal Finf ish Resource At night, Spanish sardines frequently school near the surface under lights and Less than 10% of the regional inciden depth recorder traces suggest that they tal fish catch of shrimpers is presently are widely distributed in the water col-· landed for market, due to small individual urnn at night. size, limited demand, and low ex-vessel prices. The dominant species are fish of traditionally low market value. Struhsaker Round Herring (Etrumeus teres) (19.69). concluded that increased utilization depends more on market development than on Round herring are widely distributed the status of the resource. in the South Atlantic Bight. The length distribution (Fig. 10) suggests several Avenues of this development include (l). age groups. In winter and spring, juve exporting of fish in the round to countries niles are common inshore of 28 m, while where small fish are more acceptable, (2) in summer and fall the adults occur in processing them into edible products, or (3). > 55 m of water (Barans and Burrell 1976). reducing them for industrial products. The Round herring are a major source of forage more. likely expor't market for fish in the in deep water (Barans and Powles 1977) . round is Africa (Combs, Inc. 19.78)., but the price offered is likely to be low, particu Occasional very large catches by larly in comparison to shrimp. Combs, Inc. foreign trawlers offsh.ore of 200 m sug 0.9.78~ concluded: gest that a sizeable quantity of round herring may be available in deep water ", . . as long as there is a large price during the fall. differential between shrimp and the commercially underutilized species, the shrimp fleet can Round Scad (Decapterus punctatus) not be expected to land ground- f ish." Round scad occur throughout the South Atlantic Bight, primarily inshore A successful industry that produces of 55 m (Barans and Burrell 1976). They either processed items or industrial products grow rapidly and very few appear to sur must have large volumes of low-priced raw vive past age two (S. Hales, College of materials constantly available to it. On the Charleston, pers. comm.) . Round scad Gulf coast, considerable interest in utiliza are abundant over both open and live tion of croakers for surimi has developed and bot tom and are a major forage item one plant is in commercial operation. Catches (Sarans and Powles 1977). At night, of croaker are much larger in the Gulf, how they frequently school at the surface ever, and the individual size of the fish is under lights together with Spanish sar greater. Jones (1960) presented an optimistic dines. In daytime, schools in five- bot view of the potential of a petfood industry in tom areas vary from 20 to several hun the South Atlantic Bight, but it failed to dred fish (Powles and Barans 1980). materialize. Roithmayr (1965 estimated that South Carolina offshore fish trawlers the average catch rate in the Gulf industrial catch round scad regularly in winter fishery was 548 kg/hr. Average catch rates and spring, but seldom in appreciable in the coastal waters of the South Atlantic quantities. Small otter trawls and Bight, either by shrimp boats or research purse seines are used in the bait fish vessels, are well below that level. Hoese ery for round scad off the west coast (1973). concluded that the inshore area lacks of Florida. a fish resource necessary to support a pro- 40 56-llOm 35 N =58 N=9,516 20 25 0 15 ~ 50] 28-55m N = 3,452 L&J 30 ~ 5 ~ 0 w 0::: 10~ I \ SUMMER 1974 LL. 19-27m ~ 40~ N = 18,744 N °' a= 20 601 w /\ I N = 6,861 a.. 40 OJ u ~ 301 9-18m N =169 20 I I l /\.. 10 L4 50 100 150 200 50 100 150 200 FORK LENGTH(mm) FORK LENGTH(mm) FALL 1973 SUMMER 1975 27 50 N = 20,706 30 >- (.) 10 z w :::> 0 SPRING 1974 w a:: 80 56-183m lJ... N=2,014 t- 40 z w (.) a:: w 0 a.. 40 9-55m N=6,396 20 WINTER 1974 50 N = 112 :I: (/) lJ... 30 lJ... 0 0 10 z 50 too 150 200 FORK LENGTH(mm) SUMMER 1975 28 fitable industrial fishery. Taylor (l951) "The feasibility of new ventures assessed the situation as follows: by an existing f irm should oe as sessed in terms of the profit po " .. . it does not pay to bring in tential of the venture and its abi trash fish even after they are lity to yield greater returns than caught because labor for hand current uses of the firm' s produc ling cannot be compensated, to tive factors . In the case of South say nothing of preservation, Carolina shrimp trawlers, the form without making the material too e r translates to determining the re expensive for the manufacture lationship of gr oss returns and vari of fish meal. It is, therefore, able costs for new off-season ven a disconcerting fact that in cost tures and also viewing the result in and with technical methods now terms of existing off-season utiliza available, the vast resources tion of capital and labor. " of the sea ... are economically beyond reach for fertilizer and Rephrased, an industrial fishery will have animal nutrition." to offer a clear profit potential of size able magnitude before regional shrimpers Even if the coastal finfish resource will even consider it. proves to be more extensive than our re view would indicate, we concur with Kei Because of difficulties in defining the ser' s (1977) conclusion that it is not extent of the habitat, the population size wise to promote development of an indus of underutilized species over hard and live trial fleet. 1~e resource supporting bottom is not well- known, although it is pro the Gulf fleet extends farther offshore bably larger than that over sand bottom. and fishing occurs at a greater distance These species, however, share many of the from inshore nursery grounds for shrimp undesirable characteristics noted for the and fishes of recreational value. In fish found over sand bottom. Then there is the South Atlantic Bight, the resource the potential habitat damage associated with is located in shr imp nursery areas or an extensive demersal trawl fishery. adjacent to them. Lower-Shelf and Slope Demersal Teleost Resour Qpen-Shelf Demersal Teleost Resource ces Struhsaker (1969) concluded that "The deeper lower shelf area has not been this resource offered poor foodfish adequately surveyed at this time" (Bearden potential, but that small porgies and and McKenzie 1971). That still describes the filefish may be able to support a small situation and is relevant because Combs, Inc. industrial fishery. Bearden and McKen (1978) noted that: zie (1971) suggested that "definite po tentials for the development of an in "One of the factors affecting financ dustrial . fishery for species such as ing for the industry is a hesitancy filefish, sea robins, scup, etc. exist on the part of investors to invest in the coastal and open shelf areas in an area in which there is very having smooth bottom." These assess little knowledge about both the cur ments were made (1) at a time when no rent resource and that resource's definitive stock estimates were avail projected future." able and (2) in an e ra of cheap diesel fuel. The pot ential of the 110-366 m zone for demer sal trawl production cannot be accurately eval Results from early surveys and the uated with the limited data on hand. MARMAP program strongly indicate that a foodfish resource does not exist over the open-shelf. The fish are small, Trawlable Pelagic Species unattractive, and have low flesh recov ery rates. The few species, e.g. south Combs , Inc. (1978) concluded that addi ern porgies and sand perch, that might tional capitalization in newly designed and be suitable for processed edible pro constructed vessels was necessary in order to ducts are not available in commercial increase catches of pelagic species in the quantity. In addition to their appa southeast. The method of fishing used by men rent low level of absolute abundance, haden seiners is not appropriate for harvest they are widely dispersed and difficult ing small, widely dispersed schools, the appa to harvest efficiently. rent distribution in the South Atlan tic Bight during most of the year. Pelagic species are The low catch rates reported for ~ost effici ently harvested with purse seines , commercial gear and low population esti lampara nets , or mid-water trawls, although mates of MARMAP suggest that it is very they can also be caught at times with demer unlikely that demersal trawling over sal trawls. To consistently catch signifi sand bottom of the open-shelf can pro cant quantities of pelagic fishes in the duce industrial fish in sufficient quan South Atlantic Bight, a boat would have to tities. Ulrich et al. (1976) noted that: be capable of fishing all of these gears. 29 Demersal Elasmobranchs Bullis, H. R., Jr. and J. S. Carpenter. 19h8. Latent fishery resources of the Elasmobranchs comprised the bulk of central west Atlantic region. In The the demersal fish biomass reported in re future of the fishing industry in the search survey catches inshore of 28 m, al United States. Univ. Wash. Publ. in though most· of this contribution consisted Fish. New Ser. Vol. 4:61-64. of a few large rays. The relative abun dance and availability of demersal sharks Caldwell, D. K. 1961. Populations of but has not been adequately investigated. terfish , Poronotus triacanthus (Peck), with systematic comments. Cal . Acad. As Holden (1977) noted, elasmobranch Sci. 60: 19-31. fisheries have not been studied intensive ly and little is known of stock reaction Collette. B. B. 1963. The systematic sta to exploitation. Most elasmobranchs pro tus of the Gulf of Mexico butterfish, duce only a few you~g per female during Poronotus burti (Fowler). Copeia 1963: each spawning and live-bearing species 582-583. have long gestation periods. Because of these factors, there appears to be a.rela Combs, E. R., Inc. 19.78. A study to deter tionship between parent stock and recruit mine the export and domestic markets for ment for many species, which would render currently underutilized fish and shell them very vulnerable to overfishing. fish. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv. 416 p. Continental Shelf Associates. 19.79. South Literature Cited Atlantic hard bottom study. Prepared for Bureau of Land Management , U.S. Dep. of Anderson, W. w. 1968. Fishes taken dur Commerce, Nat. Tech. Inf. Ser. 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