Temporal Aspects of Habitat Utilization and Interspecies Competition: Defining the Ecological Impacts of Spiny Dogfish in Structuring the Ecosystem Dynamics of Southern New England
- Program: SNECRI
- Total Amount Awarded:$226,922.28
- Project Duration: June 1, 2010 - May 31, 2012
- Status: Complete
Project Team:
- Dr. James Sulikowski, University of New England
- Dr. Alexia Morgan
- Christopher Brown, F/V Proud Mary
- Steve Arnold, F/V Elizabeth Helen
- Eric Brazer, Jr. GB Cod Fixed Gear and Hook Setters; Fisheries Policy and Management Coordinator, CCCFHA
Project Summary:
The project is designed to outline the anomalies in the NEFSC spiny dogfish biomass estimates, the potential impacts of those anomalies on the ecosystem, and identify means to more accurately assess the spatial distribution of this species. In doing so, the project aims to fulfill the New England Fishery Management Council’s research priority area “Investigate relationships between stocks, including predator/prey relationships and evaluate whether stock status of some species is slowing the rebuilding of groundfish stocks”. In addition, the project focuses on 1) supplementing NMFS trawl survey data for spiny dogfish to increase the accuracy of assessments of this species; 2) helping to quantify the sex ratio in the overall population and distribution of sexes; and 3) helping to identify the role of spiny dogfish in the ecosystem.