Reconciling catch differences from multiple fishery independent gill net surveys
Fishery independent gill net surveys provide valuable demographic information for population assessment and resource management, but relative to net construction, the effects of ancillary species, and environmental variables on focal species catch rates are poorly understood. In response, we conducted comparative deployments with three unique, inter-agency, survey gill nets used to assess walleye Sander vitreus in Lake Erie. We used an information-theoretic approach with Akaike’s second-order information criterion (AICc) to evaluate linear mixed models of walleye catch as a function of net type (multifilament and two types of monofilament netting), mesh size (categorical), Secchi depth, temperature, water depth, catch of ancillary species, and interactions among selected variables. The model with the greatest weight of evidence showed that walleye catches were positively associated with potential prey and intra-guild predators and negatively associated with water depth and temperature. In addition, the multifilament net had higher average walleye catches than either of the two monofilament nets. Results from this study both help inform decisions about proposed gear changes to stock assessment surveys in Lake Erie, and advance our understanding of how multispecies associations explain variation in gill net catches. Of broader interest to fishery-independent gill net studies, effects of abiotic variables and ancillary species on focal specie’s catch rates were small in comparison with net characteristics of mesh size or twine type.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2017 |
---|---|
Title | Reconciling catch differences from multiple fishery independent gill net surveys |
DOI | 10.1016/j.fishres.2016.12.004 |
Authors | Richard T. Kraus, Christopher Vandergoot, Patrick M. Kočovský, Mark W. Rogers, H. Andrew Cook, Travis O. Brenden |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Fisheries Research |
Index ID | 70181778 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Great Lakes Science Center |
Related
Gill net catch data in Lake Erie, 2010-2013
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Madison, WI, Office
1 Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Richard T Kraus, PhD
Deputy Center Director (Acting)
Patrick M Kocovsky
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager
Related
Gill net catch data in Lake Erie, 2010-2013
Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Madison, WI, Office
1 Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United States