Research
Assessing biological and economic impacts of the recreational shark fishery in Delaware
Personnel: Aaron Carlisle, George Parsons, Nate Moneymaker, Bethany Brodbeck
Description: Our research aims to address the biological and economic impacts of recreational shark fishing in the state of Delaware. Our results will provide applied information needed for stock assessments by evaluating post release mortality in shark species, characterization of the economic value of the recreational shark fishery of Delaware, as well as an assessment of public perceptions of sharks and associated fisheries, including the interest in potential behavioral modifications through the adoption of gear modifications that will foster sustainable fishing practices.
Bycatch reduction of modified large mesh sink-gillnets in the Atlantic Monkfish Fishery
Personnel: Dewayne Fox (DSU), Kevin Wark (Endeavor Fisheries), Jason Didden (MAFMC), Henry Milliken (NMFS-NOAA), Lynn Lankshear (NMFS-NOAA), Daniel Millea
Description: The goal of our project is to compare bycatch rates of Atlantic sturgeon in the mid-Atlantic sink gillnet monkfish fishery between a modified gillnet and the standard industry gillnet. We will compare catch rates of target species (e.g. Monkfish Spiny Dogfish, and Winter Skate) as well as self-reported encounter rates of Atlantic Sturgeon in both industry standard and experimental gillnets fished in the large mesh sink-gillnet Monkfish fishery. Our trials will be done under “real world” conditions with eight commercial partners ranging from MA to VA.
Characterizing the ecological role of apex predators in the Delaware Bay Ecosystem and their potential impacts on managed species
Personnel: Aaron Carlisle, Dewayne Fox (DSU), Cami McCandless (NOAA), Devon Scott
Description: This project was designed to characterize the ecological role of these predators in DB will broadly inform our understanding of how the ecosystem functions. More specifically it will provide new insight into the impact that these apex predators have on lower trophic level taxa, improving our ability to understand and predict the impact that these sharks have on managed species and associated fisheries as their populations recover or change in the face of human activities and climate change.
Compare the nutrient loading of two fish species, Nile tilapia (NT) and hybrid striped bass (HSB), in deep water aquaponics systems in DE
Personnel: Dennis McIntosh (DSU), Grant Blank (DSU), Doug Wood (302 Aquaponics)
Description: Our study was designed to compared Nitrogen compounds at various stages of a looped aquaponics system in order to assess the potential Nitrogen production per individual gram of fish by species. In doing so, we will be able to assess two different species for potential production in commercial aquaponics operations.
Creating a Pilot Scale Shellfish Hatchery with planning for a Fisheries & Aquaculture Innovation Center (FAIC)
Personnel: Alyssa Campbell, Dennis McIntosh (DSU), Grant Blank (DSU)
Description: This project aims to develop the state’s first shellfish hatchery and expand Delaware’s aquaculture industry through seed and spat production, research and development, and education. Located on the Broadkill river just outside the mouth of the Delaware Bay, the pilot facility has the capacity to produce ~50 million eyed larvae per year, with the overall goal to expand into an industrial scale facility that will support the region’s shellfish growers. In partnership with local school districts, the FAIC will support education and workforce development efforts by utilizing the facility as an extension and demonstration space for students and teachers.
DE Shellfish Aquaculture: Training to Support an Emerging Industry
Personnel: Dennis McIntosh (DSU), John Clendaniel (DSU), David Christopher (DESG)
Description: Our current proposal builds on Delaware’s legacy as a prominent shellfish producer and the DSU Aquaculture Technical Assistance and Outreach Program’s model of employing an aquaculture demonstration farm to serve as a laboratory, classroom and demonstration site. This demonstration farm in the Inland Bays will provide a base to conduct shellfish aquaculture production demonstrations, teaching and Cooperative Extension programming and, in the future, will allow a dedicated space for applied research
Developing Engineering practices using Ecosystem Design Solutions for Future Army (Military DEEDS Project)
Personnel: Jules Bruck (UF), Jack Puleo, Eric Bardenhagen, Monique Head, Danielle Kreeger (PDE), Brendan Campbell, Rileigh Hudock
Description: As part of a large multi-institutional team, we seek to quantify the role that caged oyster aquaculture has in providing habitat to the local environment. While past research has determined that oyster aquaculture enhances local habitat diversity, there is still uncertainty regarding how and at what scale fish and invertebrate communities interact with these manmade structures. Our research aims to identify ecological (community structure, abundance, trophic interactions) and commercial (production efficiency) benefits associated with off-bottom oyster aquaculture along the southern coast of Delaware Bay. Additionally, we seek to create a habitat suitability model with GIS maps of shellfish recruitment and farmed Eastern oyster growth along the southern coast of Delaware Bay to help inform the management of potential green infrastructure resilience thereby enhancing coastal resiliency.
Identifying diadromous fish abundance, habitat utilization, and fish passage feasibility in the Red Clay, White Clay, and Christina watersheds in New Castle County, Delaware
Personnel: Jerry Kauffman, Kristen Coveleski (Inter-Fluve), Rachel Roday, Anthony O’Toole
Description: This study aims to examine how the diadromous American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) use tributaries in Northern Delaware. The shad fishery has experienced a dramatic decline over the last century due to dams, other barriers to fish passage, and pollution. Using acoustic telemetry paired with stable isotope analysis, we will be able to track the movement and habitat use of shad and assess their diet and resource use in order to better understand how diadromous fishes use these systems.
Impact assessment and community-based removal of derelict crab pots from a recreational Blue Crab fishery
Personnel: Art Trembanis, Jenn Repp, Randy Feris
Description: This project will attempt to quantitatively assess the harvest of Blue Crab and other bycatch species in order to determine how derelict fishing gear and active fishing jointly affect catch rates for target and incidentally captured species alike. Three spatial regions were chosen as representative study sites with four relative states of habitat degradation (derelict gear and active gear present, derelict gear present and active gear absent, derelict gear absent and active gear present, derelict and active gear absent) in two tributaries of Indian River Bay.
Informed management of an endangered species: Monitoring Atlantic sturgeon recruitment and spawning run abundance with forecasts of abundance in the New York Bight DPS
Personnel: Dewayne Fox (DSU), John Madsen, Matt Breece, Dave Kazyak (USGS), Daniel Millea
Description: A multi-state cooperative project centered on empirically estimating river-resident juveniles, spawner abundance, and forecasted estimates of adult abundance of Atlantic sturgeon in the Delaware and Hudson rivers. Pairing side-scan sonar with acoustic telemetry of an already existing longitudinal network of acoustic receivers to generate present and forward projections of abundance. This will be used to set recovery targets using the estimates of river-resident juveniles and adult abundance.
Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal in the Brandywine River
Personnel: Jerry Kauffman, Jim Shanahan (BRRT), Rachel Roday, Anthony O’Toole
Description: This study aims to examine how diadromous fishes including American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) use tributaries in the Brandywine River, particularly in terms of recolonizing newly available habitats. Using acoustic telemetry paired with a juvenile abundance survey, we will track variability in the phenology, abundance and habitat use of shad.
Sandbridge Highly Migratory Species: Fish Distribution on a Dredged Shoal
Personnel: Aaron Carlisle, Matt Breece, Benjamin Marsaly
Description: Our primary study objectives included (1) comprehensively summarizing current information on HMS occurrence, residency, and distribution on Sandbridge Shoal, VA (2) developing two fisheries independent surveys (longline, BRUVs) to characterize the HMS assemblage using the shoal, (3) using acoustic and accelerometer tags to characterize habitat use, residency, and behaviors of HMS on the shoal and reference sites, and (4) using stable isotope analysis (SIA) to assess the trophic ecology of HMS in the study and reference sites. Our goal was to determine how these species use various sand shoal environments.