Trap Survey on Two Artificial Reefs
April 13, 2016
Scientists from the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife have teamed up with researchers from Rutgers University in a DEP-funded study to conduct a trap survey of the Little Egg and Sea Girt artificial reefs. Between March and November, 22 individual fish traps, identified at the surface with red buoys, are being deployed on each reef location.
The objectives of the trap survey focus on characterizing the seasonal and spatial changes in reef community composition and relative abundance of structure-associated species. The survey focuses on several species of great recreational and commercial importance, including black sea bass, tautog (blackfish), and lobster, but will also provide helpful data on other commercially-important species occurring on the reefs.
Results from the project will be valuable for improving our ecological understanding of New Jersey's artificial reefs, which will be useful for consideration in the development of fishery management plans and informing ongoing projects as part of the artificial reef program. For more information regarding the survey please contact Rutgers researchers Dr. Douglas Zemeckis at (doug.zemeckis@gmail.com), Dr. Olaf Jensen (olaf.p.jensen@gmail.com; 410-812-4842), or Bureau of Marine Fisheries biologist Peter Clarke (609-748-2020).
For information on New Jersey's artificial reef program, including reef locations, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/artreef.htm
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2016/reeftrapsurvey.htm?prompt=0
Trap survey of Little Egg and Sea Girt Reefs
Hello Anglers,
I am writing to inform you of an ongoing project between researchers from Rutgers University and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife. The NJDEP-funded study includes a trap survey of two artificial reefs off New Jersey: the Little Egg Inlet and Sea Girt Reefs.
The objectives of the trap survey focus on characterizing the seasonal and spatial variation in community composition and relative abundance of structure-associated species at the two reefs. The survey focuses on black sea bass, blackfish, and lobster, but will also provide helpful data on other species (e.g., Jonah and rock crabs). Results from the project will be valuable for improving our ecological understanding of New Jersey’s artificial reefs, which will be useful for consideration in fishery management and informing ongoing projects as part of the NJDEP’s artificial reef program. Additionally, the project will provide necessary data for designing a statistically robust trap survey of structure-associated species that are not effectively sampled by traditional fishing gears (i.e., otter trawls) which cannot access most rocky habitats, thereby helping to collect improved data for inclusion in future stock assessments.
The project is currently underway and there are 22 fish traps deployed on multiple bottom types at each reef: metal, concrete, and sand. The traps are rigged individually (i.e., not trawls) and are marked at the surface with red buoys identifying them as "Rutgers Research". Please do not disturb the traps if you are fishing or diving in the vicinity of the buoys. The traps will be deployed during three phases: April through early May, June through July, and October through early November.
If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to contact us via a personal message on this board. We look forward to hearing your feedback.
http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87308
Trap Survey on Two Artificial Reefs
Scientists from the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife have teamed up with researchers from Rutgers University in a NJDEP-funded study to conduct a trap survey of the Little Egg Inlet and Sea Girt artificial reefs. Between March and November, 22 individual fish traps, identified at the surface with red buoys, are being deployed on each reef location.
For more information about the survey visit
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2016/reeftrapsurvey.htm
on the Division's website.
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