Recording Data: With the exception of fish lengths, all data collected from stations are recorded by hand. This includes trawling coordinates, vessel speed, water depth, salinity, air temperature, invertebrates, substrate, etc. (As of March 2012, invertebrate and substrate data are no longer collected.)
Measuring Carp: Fish that are too large for the electronic fish measuring board, such as this carp (Cyprinus carpio), must be measured using a meter stick.
Tagging Blue Crabs: The survey has been used as a platform for studies by other VIMS researchers and students. Here, survey personnel tag an adult female blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) for a tracking study.
Measuring Fish: Using the electronic fish measuring board to measure small weakfish (Cynoscion regalis).
Secchi Measurement: At each station, a secchi depth measurement is taken to determine the clarity of the surface water.
Data Products
In addition to collecting data on the abundance of Virginia's juvenile fish and blue crabs, the Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey generates a wealth of ancillary data concerning
- hydrography (secchi depth, water depth, water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen)
- atmospheric conditions (air temperature, sea state, wind speed and direction*)
- invertebrates* (bivalves, decapods, marine worms, gelatinous organisms, etc.), and
- substrate* (SAV, hydroids, seaweed, sand, etc.)
The data and samples gathered by the VIMS Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey are analyzed by survey staff, students, other VIMS researchers, and collaborating scientists from other institutions. The products resulting from these analyses include reports, indices of abundance, publications, and theses and dissertations.
The data generated by the survey are used by fishery managers and researchers. These data, together with data from other surveys, are used by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission as well as multi-state fishery management councils to create fishery management plans.
*As of March 2012, these data are no longer collected by the Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey.
