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Studying the Delaware River - 2012 Report

By Jennifer Pyle, Assistant Biologist
Species Fact Sheets by Maryellen Gordon, Assistant Biologist
May 8, 2013

INTRODUCTION - HISTORY OF FISHERIES SURVEYS

The Delaware estuary, New Jersey's largest estuary system, is a semi-enclosed body of water where freshwater from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Delaware Bay. The estuary is a migratory route for many recreational and commercial fish and provides critical spawning and feeding grounds and nursery areas for many species.

The success of a species is contingent upon the survival of their young. The Delaware estuary provides a suitable nursery environment for young fish to grow. Monitoring populations of these juvenile fish is essential for fishery managers to estimate abundance and evaluate the success of the population. These assessments provide a means to predict population trends and future harvest potential of monitored species.

Bureau of Marine Fisheries biologists within the New Jersey DEP's Division of Fish & Wildlife conduct several surveys each year to study the status of species populations within the estuary. One of these surveys is the Delaware River Seine Survey.

The seine survey is a Fishery Independent Monitoring Project required by the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for Striped Bass. It is currently the Bureau of Marine Fisheries' longest running fishery-independent survey. It began in 1980 when striped bass stocks were severely depleted and is primarily a juvenile striped bass abundance survey. Data collected provides an annual abundance index for this species, reported as the number of young-of-year per seine haul. Results have been corroborated by other independent surveys, such as the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife's striped bass spawning stock survey.

A unique aspect of this survey is its longevity - it has been conducted for 33 consecutive years. Data from such a large period of time is highly beneficial to species population studies. Not only does this survey tell us how many fish there are from year to year, but the data also contributes to the development of fisheries management plans and projections of sustainable harvest levels.

For more information about the value of this survey, see the article from the 2006 Marine Digest: Striped Bass Survey Well Worth the Cost (pdf, 290kb).

Data Summary of 2012 Delaware River Seine Survey (pdf, 113kb)

Data Summary of 2011 Delaware River Seine Survey (pdf, 97kb)
Data Summary of 2010 Delaware River Seine Survey (pdf, 115kb)
Data Summary of 2009 Delaware River Seine Survey (pdf, 110kb)

Click on the links below for more Delaware River Seine Survey information:

  • SURVEY LOCATIONS
  • EQUIPMENT/METHODOLOGY
  • CATCH HISTORY
  • WATER QUALITY
  • THE FUTURE OF DELAWARE RIVER FISHERIES
    SURVEY LOCATIONS

    The survey area is divided into three regions. These regions have not changed since the beginning of the survey. Changes have occurred to the number of stations, station locations and dates sampled over the years.

    All regions are tidal. Region 1 is the southernmost sampling area. It is a brackish region extending from the spring saltwater/freshwater interface to the Delaware Memorial Bridges. Region 2 is the central sampling area. It is a brackish to freshwater area extending from the Delaware Memorial Bridges to the Schuylkill River. Region 3 is the northernmost sampling area. It is a freshwater area extending from Philadelphia to the fall line at Trenton.

    Currently, there are 32 fixed stations (beaches): eight in Region 1, 16 in Region 2 and eight in Region 3. Each station is sampled bi-monthly from mid-June to mid-November, resulting in 320 seine hauls each year.

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    EQUIPMENT/METHODOLOGY

    Boat deploying net
    Trawl net diagram
    Images show net placement and taking inventory of catch.
    Click on images to enlarge.
    Survey methodology has remained fairly consistent through the years. The boat used for this survey is a 20-foot Privateer, Roamer skiff. This fiberglass boat has a side console and a 140-horsepower Suzuki 4-stroke outboard engine. The net used is a 100-foot long, 6-foot deep seine net with ¼-inch mesh that has a bag in the middle where the fish are collected.

    One end of the net is held close to shore by a crewmember on the beach while the rest of the net is set off the bow of the boat as it backs away from the beach. The boat sets the net with the current, before turning back towards the beach to form a "U" shape. To complete the haul, the net is pulled onto the beach from both ends and the catch is funneled into the bag in the center of the net

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    CATCH HISTORY

    After a seine haul is complete, and the net has been pulled onto the beach, all fish captured are sorted by species, counted and sub-samples of target species are measured. In addition to striped bass, target species include white perch, American shad, bay anchovy, Atlantic croaker, weakfish, blueback herring, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic silverside, alewife, spot, blue crab, bluefish, hickory shad, winter flounder, black drum and summer flounder.

    Since the survey's inception, sampling crews have set a beach seine 6,598 times and caught 1,273,002 fish. Fish & Wildlife has averaged 192 fish per haul since 1980, with 88 different species identified. The five most abundant species caught include blueback herring, Atlantic menhaden, bay anchovy, white perch and American shad. The primary target species (striped bass) is the eleventh most commonly captured.

    NOTE: The revised total number of hauls and number of fish caught is lower than previously reported. When the seine survey was created, there was a period of time when multiple hauls were carried out at one location on one date. The data of the entire survey was reviewed and standardized during 2012 and it was decided that no extra hauls would be included in the survey totals. While the data from these hauls is still important, it is imperative to use data that is consistent with the current survey data, thus creating a standardized database from 1980 through 2012.

    Summary Table of All Species Caught 1980-2012 (pdf, 13kb)

    Delaware River Species and Fact Sheets

    Menhaden and Striped Bass - In 2003, the average number of striped bass caught per haul was 12 fish, a record year for this survey. The striped bass fishing moratorium in the 1980's allowed striped bass populations to bounce back rapidly and bass numbers have continually increased since the early 1990's. On the other hand, while striped bass numbers are increasing, the average numbers of Atlantic menhaden are decreasing. This development concerns biologists because menhaden are a key food source for striped bass. It is possible that the menhaden population decrease is a direct result of the increasing striped bass population. Closely monitoring menhaden and striped bass numbers over the next few years will be helpful in understanding this predator-prey dynamic and potential management implications for both species.

    Blueback Herring and American Shad - Blueback herring and American shad numbers have also increased overall since the beginning of the survey. However, during years of severe flooding (2006) and severe drought (2002), catches tend to be lower than normal. In 2001, the average number of blueback herring caught per haul was 98 but in 2002, the average dropped to six fish per haul. Likewise, American shad averages dropped from 20 fish per haul in 2001 to one fish per haul in 2002. Both species seem resilient, as they bounced back with abundance in alternating years.

    Unfortunately, due to flooding in 2006, blueback herring and American shad population counts dropped to all-time lows of less than one fish and only one per haul, respectively. But once again, American shad showed their resiliency in the Delaware River during 2007, with the highest abundance recorded at 37 fish per haul. Blueback herring abundance remained low (26 fish per haul) for 2007, causing some concern for this species. However, an increase to 39 fish per haul occurred in 2011.

    In 2012, the average number of both species caught, were the lowest since 2006, with 1 blueback herring and 5 American shad per haul. These numbers present a reason to be concerned for both species. Limiting the number of fish that can be harvested is one way to combat these declines.

    For more information about recent developments with river herring, see the following article from the 2011 Marine Digest: Last Call for River Herring (pdf, 210kb)

    Effective January 1, 2013, all American shad fisheries (both commercial and recreational), with the exception of the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries, are closed (no possession, take or harvest). The recreational possession limit in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries is now be 3 fish with no minimum size and an open season all year. Commercial net regulations for American shad in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries will remain the same.

    White Perch - The abundance of white perch has also increased over the survey years. The average per-haul number increased substantially from 1990 to 1991, with average numbers caught jumping from 10 fish per haul to 32 fish per haul. To date, the best year was 1996 when white perch numbers reached an average of 67 fish per haul. This was a productive year for many other species as well. Since 1996, the number of white perch has fluctuated without trend showing an additional peak in 2003.

    Bay Anchovy - The bay anchovy is a species whose numbers have been decreasing at an alarming rate. These fish are usually one of the most abundant species in the Delaware estuary and are a primary food source for many fish inhabiting the river, including weakfish, bluefish and striped bass. The average number caught per seine haul in this survey has been declining since 2000. Bay anchovy data correlates well with data from Fish and Wildlife's Finfish Trawl Survey in Delaware Bay, which also indicates a bay anchovy decline since 1998.

    The potential impact from this decrease has yet to be recognized, but the recent decline in the Delaware Bay's weakfish population may be an indication of a food chain imbalance within this estuary. Continued monitoring of the estuary's bay anchovy population is important. Fish and Wildlife will continue to conduct research and analyze data to assess the status of the anchovy population and relationships to prey fish populations.

    For more information about forage fish in the Delaware River, please read the 2009 Marine Digest article, Importance of Forage Fish in the Delaware River. (pdf, 1.3mb)

    Sturgeon - Historically, the Delaware Estuary has been an important habitat for two species of sturgeon: the shortnose sturgeon, and its cousin, the Atlantic sturgeon. Atlantic sturgeon primarily live in the ocean, and migrate through the estuary to spawn in freshwater. Shortnose sturgeon spend most of their time in the brackish water of the estuary, moving upstream to fresher water to spawn.

    Over the duration of the Delaware River seine survey, only one sturgeon has ever been caught. In August 2004, a shortnose sturgeon was caught during a haul at the Oldman's Point station just down river from the Commodore Barry Bridge. The young-of-year sturgeon measured only 4.6-inches.

    Shortnose Sturgeon
    Click to enlarge

    With improving water quality and fishing regulations sturgeon populations may continue to grow in the Delaware River and possibly one day return to the population sizes of a century ago.

    The Shortnose sturgeon was listed as endangered on March 11, 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and the Atlantic sturgeon was listed on April 6, 2012. Both of these Endangered listings remain in effect today. For more information, please refer to this website: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/01/31_atlantic_sturgeon.html (Outdated link).

    For more information about the Endangered Species status listing of Atlantic sturgeon, see Atlantic Sturgeon - Endangered Species (pdf, 385kb) from the 2013 Marine Digest.

    For the second year, the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has deployed 18 acoustic receivers in Delaware Bay to track migration patterns of Atlantic sturgeon. Those fishing inshore waters may encounter white buoys marking the receivers which are set at water depths generally less than 20 feet. Buoys are labeled "NJDEP Research" and should be avoided. For more information on the research and buoy location, see www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2013/sturgeon_research13.htm.

    For more information about shortnose sturgeon, see the species profile from the 2005 Marine Digest: www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2005/digmar_sturgeon.pdf (pdf, 145kb).

    For more information about individual species (biology, range, etc.), please visit one of the following websites:
    www.fishbase.org/search.php
    www.asmfc.org/

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    WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

    Water quality parameters such as salinity, water temperature and dissolved oxygen are recorded at every station with a handheld dissolved oxygen (DO) meter that simultaneously measures several different water quality parameters. The meter has a probe attached to it with a long cord. This probe is lowered over the side of the boat and placed into the water, just below the surface. The DO meter gives readings within a matter of seconds and provides surveyors with fast, accurate measurements. Because all water quality parameters are influenced by many outside factors, it is necessary to record this data at the site of each seine haul.

    In the 1940's, the water quality of the Delaware River was considered to be "grossly polluted." In 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act was enacted and water quality began to improve. Levels fluctuated until the mid-1980's when major improvements were finally seen. In 1989, striped bass catches in the river were at a much higher level than previous years. This showed that the striped bass population was rebounding, and water quality was beginning to improve. The information provided in this report contains water quality data from 1990 through present day.

    Testing water quality with meter Salinity is the saltiness, or dissolved salt content, of a body of water. In the Delaware River seine survey, it is measured in parts per thousand (ppt) which is the measure of grams of salt per liter of water. In a tidal estuary, there are many factors which influence salinity. Freshwater run-off from rainstorms lowers salinity levels, while droughts lead to an influx of saltwater from the ocean. In this survey, Region 1 is the southernmost area, closest to the Delaware Bay and has the highest salinity averages, ranging from 6.480 ppt in 1995. Region 2 is a brackish water area, with averages ranging from 0 ppt to 1.612 ppt in 1997. While still tidal, Region 3 is almost completely freshwater. Survey averages have ranged from 0 ppt to 0.102 ppt in 2000. Overall, trends show the salinity of the Delaware River has remained fairly constant through the years.
    Salinity Graph (pdf, 17kb)

    Water temperature is also affected by many factors, including water depth, tides, and the weather. On average, the water temperature during this survey, measured in degrees Celsius, has increased over the years. The lowest average temperatures in all three regions occurred in the early 1990s. In Region 1 high averages were collected in 2007 measuring 24.1° C. In Region 2, it was 2001 at 23.8° C. Finally, Region 3 peaked out in 2005 at 24.0° C.
    Water Temperature Graph (pdf, 17b)

    Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a measure of the amount of gaseous oxygen that is dissolved in water. It is measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Oxygen gets into the water by diffusion from the surrounding air. This happens through a number of methods including rapid water movement (tides, run-off or boat traffic) and air movement above the water (wind or storms). Trends show a gradual decrease in the overall average of DO in the Delaware River. Region 1 peaked out at an average of 7.867 mg/L in 1996 and bottomed out in 2010 at 6.485 mg/L. Region 2, had its highest average in 1990 at 7.378 mg/L and lowest in 2008 at 6.286 mg/L. Like Region 1, Region 3 had its highest average in 1996 at 8.01 mg/L and its lowest in 2001 with a value of 5.94 mg/L.
    Dissolved Oxygen Graph (pdf, 17kb)

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    THE FUTURE OF DELAWARE BAY FISHERIES

    Regions 1 and 2 are historical striped bass spawning grounds. Results of this seine survey in recent years have confirmed that these regions are just as important now as they were in decades past. In fact, data from this and similar surveys in other states have reflected an increase in the striped bass population along the entire East Coast. Surveys like this are just the beginning of the stock assessment process for many species.

    Since the inception of the survey, the abundance of several species has declined including spot, American eel, channel catfish and weakfish. While it is not completely certain why these species populations are decreasing, future research is planned to determine the underlying causes.

    Seine surveys, as with all fishery surveys, are important for ecosystem management. Not only do they provide information on species abundance, but they also provide a broader source of data on interactions with other species and associations with environmental factors. Without these surveys, biologists could not identify species interactions that might predict future fishery management needs. With consistent monitoring along the entire New Jersey coast, we can identify declines in species abundance and implement management actions before it's too late.

    Anglers have an important opportunity to help biologists collect valuable data through the Division's Recreational Saltwater Angler Survey. Interested anglers are encouraged to log on at www.njfishandwildlife.com/marinesurvey.htm to enter information about personal fishing trips. All information collected helps improve the management of our marine resources and the sustainability of New Jersey's marine fisheries.

    Don't forget to register before fishing - it's FREE! For more information on the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program, please refer to: www.SaltwaterRegistry.nj.gov.

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    Funding for this survey is supported by the Federal Aid to the Sport Fish Restoration Program administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
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    Last Updated: May 8, 2013