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ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil Advance Access originally published online on September 8, 2008
ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil 2008 65(7):1326-1333; doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsn137
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© 2008 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Oxford Journals. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The role of closed areas in rebuilding monkfish populations in the Gulf of Maine

Melissa D. Smith1, Jonathan H. Grabowski2 and Philip O. Yund1

1 Marine Science Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
2 Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Correspondence to J. H. Grabowski: tel: +1 207 228 1628; fax: +1 207 772 6855; e-mail: jgrabowski{at}gmri.org.

Smith, M. D., Grabowski, J. H., and Yund, P. O. 2008. The role of closed areas in rebuilding monkfish populations in the Gulf of Maine. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1326–1333.

The use of fish closures as a management tool to protect juvenile fish habitat and adult spawning grounds has become increasingly popular, although knowledge of the direct effects of marine closures on juvenile fish populations is limited. Given that monkfish landings account for a considerable percentage of the monetary value derived from the groundfish fishery in new England, investigating the factors that influence monkfish population dynamics will assist managers in sustaining this important natural resource. We conducted bottom-trawl surveys to determine the effects of closure status [inside vs. outside the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area (WGMCA)] and habitat type (mud bottom in isolation from gravel or cobble bottom vs. mud that is next to these more complex habitats) on the distribution, abundance, and diet composition of monkfish (Lophius americanus) in the Gulf of Maine. Surprisingly, the abundance of adult monkfish did not differ in vs. out of the closure, and juvenile monkfish were more abundant outside of the WGMCA, where they also exhibited higher feeding intensity and consumed more prey biomass. Monkfish diet and condition results implied that the boulder and ledge bottom is essential monkfish habitat and that these effects were independent of the WGMCA.

Keywords: closed areas, essential fish habitat, Lophius americanus, monkfish, Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area

Received 4 December 2007; accepted 4 August 2008; advance access publication 8 September 2008.


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