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Fisheries Science and the Striped Bass

Fisheries Science and the Striped Bass. A Classroom Lesson from the Mathematics & Science Center. Striped Bass: A Success Story!. Why? Because of …. Fisheries Science … and then… proper fish management!. Fisheries Science Involves:. Biology/Life Cycle Genetics Ecology

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Fisheries Science and the Striped Bass

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  1. Fisheries Science and the Striped Bass

  2. A Classroom Lesson from theMathematics & Science Center

  3. Striped Bass: A Success Story!

  4. Why? Because of …. Fisheries Science … and then… proper fish management!

  5. Fisheries Science Involves: • Biology/Life Cycle • Genetics • Ecology • Population Studies • Taxonomy • Fisheries Technology • Management ( & politics!)

  6. In the Chesapeake Bay… • Salinity = 0.5 to 32 ppt • 50% depth < 20 ft. • Temp range = 1 – 30° C • Largest U.S. Estuary • Oxygen levels vary • (O to saturated)

  7. …Fish Fauna Flourish! Not many “residents” – most are visitors! 267 species in the bay Only 32 species are year-round!

  8. Fish & their Waters… • Freshwater (0 – 5 ppt) • Estuarine (0.5 to 32 ppt) • Marine (> 30 ppt) • Anadromous Species of fish– Lives in Salt water, spawns in Fresh

  9. The Scientific Question: How many fish do we have… ...and how many can we catch… …without harming the fish stock?

  10. A Stock Assessment A special type of study of the carrying capacity of an area for a fish population that is “harvested” or managed • Fish Biology • Fishing Practices • Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)

  11. Methods of Fish Science

  12. Otoliths – How Old is a Fish?

  13. Otolith Rings = Fish Age

  14. Graphs of Fish Populations

  15. Fish Length Graph Fish Length (avg.) Year

  16. Length = Age Female Striped Bass… …is able to reproduce… … at 4 years old!

  17. Tagging – Where they go!

  18. Inserting the tag

  19. A Tagged Fish

  20. Dissections – What they eat

  21. A Favorite treat!

  22. Prey of the Striped Bass

  23. DNA – Fish Genetics

  24. Whose Eggs?

  25. DNA Patterns of Chesapeake Bay Sportfish 2,036 1,636 1,018 517/506 396 344 298 220/201 154/134 Bluefish Summer flounder Southern kingfish } Spanish mackerel } Spotted sea trout } Northern kingfish } Atlantic croaker } Cobia } Black sea bass Black drum Silver perch Striped bass Red drum Weakfish Tautog Spot

  26. DNA Says --- • Bass Mitochondrial DNA • RFLP, Gel Electrophoresis • Pattern for each species

  27. Fishing Practices • Who is doing the fishing… • Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)

  28. By-catch – A Critical Issue

  29. Keep or Release?

  30. Some Major Things We’ve Learned… • Reduced populations from overfishing INCREASES the effects of natural stresses • Acid rain and other chemicals (copper, aluminum) are toxic • Fluctuation of water temp. in spawning grounds is most significant natural stress

  31. Maximum Sustainable Yield • The number of fish we can catch per year and not hurt the stock • Usually occurs at ½ of the carrying capacity • Not too many fish for competition, but enough for a good spawning stock

  32. The Scientific End Result We learn: What age fish to catch… How many we can catch and when… and still not hurt the fish stock!

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