Citation:

Nye, J., S. Ayvazian, AND B. Rashleigh. The influence of climate, nutrient loading and predation on spatial and temporal changes in fish assemblages in Narragansett Bay. American Fisheries Society 145th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, August 16 - 20, 2015.

Impact/Purpose:

We are presenting research on the historical trends in finfish assemblages in Narragansett Bay. This research is one portion of SSWR project 6.1 Task A.

Description:

Estuarine fish are a highly valued resources that are affected by several factors, including climate, trophic interactions, pollution, and fishing pressure. Here, we examine the spatial and temporal patterns in estuarine fish assemblage in Narragansett Bay, an estuary located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts using data collected in a trawl survey conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the years 1980 – 2012, separated by season, and grouped by upper, middle, and lower sections of the Bay. Our explanatory data included several indicators of climate variability, nitrogen loading, fishing and cormorant abundance over the same time period. There was high variability among many fish species and sites through time, but notable declines in demersal species such as winter flounder, windowpane flounder, hogchoker and red hake and increases in pelagic species such as scup, butterfish and longfin squid. A systems-level understanding of the historic trends in fish assemblages, in relation to multiple stressors, can support the management of the valued finfish species and the whole estuarine system.

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