A preliminary study for improving survivability of cusk bycatch in the Gulf of Maine lobster trap

Cusk (Brosme brosme) are a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) “Species of Concern,” as well as a “Candidate Species” under the Endangered Species Act. Cusk distribution is thought to co-occur with the Maine lobster trap fishery when fishermen move offshore to follow the lobster during the spring and fall. Cusk spawn in the spring, making this overlap critical to reproduction and recruitment. Data collected by the Maine Department of Marine Resources' (DMR) lobster sea sampling program suggests that cusk are part of the bycatch in lobster traps. However, the occurrence as bycatch in traps and subsequent survivability after being discarded is poorly documented or unknown. This small-scale project is a preliminary study designed to accomplish the following tasks: develop and test the experimental protocol; identify and recruit fishermen who caught cusk in their lobster traps in the past and are willing volunteers for this project; meet with fishermen to discuss this project and go over the experiment protocol; and work with fishermen conducting fieldwork to collect preliminary data for analysis. We have accomplished all the tasks. This preliminary study suggests that with appropriate treatments, cusk caught as a bycatch species in the lobster trap fishery can survive the discarding process. NOAA NMFS Contract Number: EE1333F12SE2038