Characterization of the Massachusetts Spring Longfin Squid Fishery Bradley P. Schondelmeier Aquatic Biologist Fisheries Dependent Investigations William S. Hoffman Senior Marine Biologist Fisheries Dependent Investigations Daniel J. McKiernan Director Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Department of Fish and Game Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts May 21, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 1 2. BIOLOGY AND STOCK STATUS OF LONGFIN SQUID ......................................................... 1 2.1 Habitat and Growth ................................................................................................................ 2 2.2 Predator and Prey ................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Stock Status ............................................................................................................................ 2 3. MANAGEMENT OF THE LONGFIN SQUID FISHERY ........................................................... 3 3.1 Description of Massachusetts Longfin Squid Trawl Fishery ................................................. 3 3.2 Reporting Areas ...................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Vessels and Gear .................................................................................................................... 5 3.4 Permits and Endorsements ..................................................................................................... 6 3.5 Catch Restrictions .................................................................................................................. 6 3.6 Season..................................................................................................................................... 6 3.7 Description of Longfin Squid Weir Fishery ........................................................................... 7 3.8 Description of Longfin Squid Handline/Rod and Reel Fishery ............................................. 7 4. HISTORY OF LONGFIN SQUID MANAGEMENT ................................................................... 7 4.1 Significant Federal Management Actions .............................................................................. 7 4.2 Significant State Management Actions .................................................................................. 8 4.3 Regulatory Limits ................................................................................................................... 8 5. ANALYSIS METHODS OF THE LONGFIN SQUID FISHERY ............................................... 9 5.1 Definition of a Squid Trip ...................................................................................................... 9 5.2 Landings Data ...................................................................................................................... 10 5.3 At-Sea Catch, Bycatch and Biological Data......................................................................... 10 5.4 Analytical Programs ............................................................................................................. 10 5.5 Data Confidentiality Standards ............................................................................................ 10 6. LANDINGS AND VALUE OF THE LONGFIN SQUID FISHERY ......................................... 10 6.1 Coastwide Longfin Squid Landings and Value .................................................................... 10 6.2 Massachusetts Longfin Squid Landings ............................................................................... 12 6.3 Coastwide Landings During Massachusetts Spring Longfin Squid Spring Fishery ............ 13 6.4 Landings by State from Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds .................................................... 14 6.5 Landings of Longfin Squid by Bottom-Trawl Vessel Size .................................................. 14 6.6 Value of Spring Longfin Squid Landings from All Areas ................................................... 17 6.7 Value of Landings by Port.................................................................................................... 18 6.8 Incidentally Kept Species Landings and Value .................................................................... 18 6.9 Economic Significance of Spring Longfin Squid Fishery to Participating Vessels ............. 19 7. AT-SEA CATCH SAMPLING (2013-2017) ................................................................................. 20 7.1 Sampling Programs and Agencies ........................................................................................ 20 7.2 Fisheries Observer Duties .................................................................................................... 21 7.3 Catch Sampling Effort .......................................................................................................... 21 7.4 Sea Sampling Data Selection Methods ................................................................................ 22 7.5 Annual Sampling Effort ....................................................................................................... 23 7.6 Coverage Rates ..................................................................................................................... 23 7.7 Spring Fishery Bottom Trawl Fishing Grounds ................................................................... 24 7.8 Location of Sampled Hauls .................................................................................................. 25 i 7.8.1 Effort by Area ....................................................................................................... 26 7.8.2 Effort by Month .................................................................................................... 26 7.9 Summary of Sampled Catches ............................................................................................. 27 7.9.1 Finfishes ................................................................................................................ 28 7.9.2 Shellfishes ............................................................................................................. 29 7.10 Target Species Catch ............................................................................................................ 29 7.10.1 Longfin Squid ....................................................................................................... 29 7.11 Vessel Size and Haul Duration Effects ................................................................................ 30 7.12 Standardized Catch Rates ..................................................................................................... 30 7.13 Catch Rate Seasonality ......................................................................................................... 31 7.14 Squid Lengths ....................................................................................................................... 32 7.14.1 Reason for Discarding Longfin Squid .................................................................. 32 7.15 Non-Target Species Catch .................................................................................................... 32 7.15.1 Scup ...................................................................................................................... 32 7.15.2 Butterfish .............................................................................................................. 33 7.15.3 Summer Flounder.................................................................................................. 34 7.15.4 Black Sea Bass ...................................................................................................... 36 7.15.5 Additional Kept Catches ....................................................................................... 37 7.15.6 Additional Discarded Catches ............................................................................... 37 7.16 Summary of Discards by Category ...................................................................................... 39 7.16.1 Market-Related Discards ...................................................................................... 39 7.16.2 Regulatory Discards .............................................................................................. 39 7.16.3 Other Discards ...................................................................................................... 39 7.16.4 Notable Catches .................................................................................................... 39 8. DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................................. 40 8.1 Factors Contributing to Sustainability .................................................................................. 40 8.1.1 Species Resiliency ................................................................................................ 40 8.2 Catch and Bycatch Data ......................................................................................................