Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 8 - Small Pelagic FishLongfin Inshore SquidThe distribution of this species corresponds well to informationon its life history and movements (Figure 8-7a,b). They are persistent near the shelf edge from CapeHatteras to south of Cape Cod in the spring (Figure 8-8a). In the fall, they are broadly dispersed in shelf watersof southern New England and the Mid-Atlantic Bight, onportions of Georges Bank, Cape Cod Bay, a small area adjacentto the tip of Cape Cod, and inshore (Figure 8-8b).There may be two groups in the fall, possibly representingtwo main age cohorts, one further inshore than the other.The trend maps seem to indicate a relatively stable populationwhich is in agreement with NMFS biomass trenddata (Figures 8-7 c, d).AImportant Areas for Longfin Inshore Squid:Spring: Continental Shelf edge waters, Cape Cod toCape HatterasFall: Shelf waters, southern New England, Mid-Atlantic Bight, on portions of Georges Bank, CapeCod Bay, a small area adjacent to the tip of CapeCod, and inshoreNorthern Sand LanceThis species is broadly distributed in the spring fromthe Chesapeake to Georges Bank, mostly inshore, with adense concentration in the Cape Ann to Stellwagen Bankarea (Figure 8-9a). During the spring, analysis revealshigh persistence, but low abundance in an area extend-BFigure 8-8. Areas with high persistence and abundance over 40 years for longfin squid during the spring and fallseasons.Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report 8-11