[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                                                                                        FINAL PRODUCT         FY'94 Task 22
                                                                                        VMRC              Parma Compliance  Inspection









                                          Final Report: Development of Internet Access













                                                                    Submitted by:
  C4                                                                 Erik J. Barth
 -3-                                              Management Information Systems Division
                                                    Virginia Marine Resources Commission
                                                                    P.O. Box 756
                                                            Newport News, VA 23607
  bo




                                                                      May 1996








                         This report was funded, in part, by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Coastal Resources Management
                          Program through Grant #NA470ZO287-01 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean
                          and Coastal Resource Management, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.
                     P"







              Background

              The Marine Resources Commission has broad responsibility for managing natural resources in
              Virginia's coastal zone. The Commission has been working for a number of years to develop
              geographic information system (GIS) and other automated information systems to manage data related
              to marine resource management. Automation projects have often been supported by federal grant
              programs such as the Virginia Coastal Resource Management Program. The Commission's GIS and
              habitat management permit tracking work in particular has been planned to allow close cooperation with
              the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Programs at both VMRC and VIMS have the ability of shared
              computer information by exchanging electronic media; however, it is more desirable and would better
              serve the management/resource assessment process if exchange of computerized information could be
              done online.


              To pursue   this, the Commission established a dial-up TCP/IP connection to the Commonwealth's
              Telecommunication Network (CTN) in late 1994; this is an Internet service managed by the Department
              of Information Technology that connects State agencies. By using an Internet connection, the
              Commission could develop more automated means of exchanging E-mail, data files, and other
              computerized resource information with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science as well as other State
              agencies and organizations with access to the Internet.

              The purpose of this grant work was to request funds to continue support of the dial-up connection
              service, upgrade the type of connection later in 1995, and establish a SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer
              Protocol; Internet Compliant E-mail) mail gateway to allow VMRC to exchange E-mail with VIMS
              resource management staff and potentially other resource management agencies. The connection has
              obvious benefits for improved communication and information sharing which should help the resource
              management process and promote closer development of automated systems that can be shared between
              VIMS and VMRC and other interested agencies.

              Scope of Work

              The Commission will procure and install hardware and software to allow exchange of Internet E-mail
              and other computerized data files. We will also arrange service agreements with DIT or other vendors
              concerning telecommunication to allow information transfer via the TCP/IP protocol.


              Results


              The Commission upgraded to TCP/IP CTN service in July 1995. The new service is provided by the
              Department of Information Technology. The dedicated connection is on a 56Kb circuit connected
              through Norfolk to Richmond. The hardware installed is a AT&T DSU/CSU and a 2501 Cisco Router.
              The current plan is to replace the Commission's existing 9.6Kb dedicated line with the new line. The
              new line will allow both SNA and TCP/IP traffic; the old line will be phased out to help cover the
              annual costs of the new connection.


              The Conunission's internal Novell LAN has been configured to route TCP/IP. A Class C Internet
              address license has been established for the Cominission. Basic access filters have been established on
              the router to protect the internal LAN. Because all critical applications reside in the Novell
              environment, threats from the external TCP/IP network are minimal.


              As planned, a SMTP mail gateway was established to allow E-mail users on our LAN to exchange mail

                                                                 2







              and attachments with outside organizations that have internet mail access. The mail gateway has been
              tested with VIMS and numerous other state, federal, and private organizations. The Commission mail
              system is Microsoft mail; to reach the Commission staff via internet mail use the persons first initial
              and first 9 letters of the last name as the user name, and address to mrc.state.va.us (e.g. ebarth @
              mrc.state.va.us).

              In addition to the E-mail gateway, we have re-established a FIFP account with VIMS to allow electronic
              exchange of larger files. We also have installed Web browsers on PC's throughout our LAN to allow
              access to internet home pages. We have used freeware (Windows for Workgroups TCP/IP and Mosaic)
              for our Web and FTP tools.


              Conclusions


              All indications are that this connection will be a significant enhancement to our communication
              abilities. E-mail has already proved to be popular with staff and is being used to coordinate activities
              outside of the Agency in both the Fisheries and Habitat Management programs.

              Web browsing looks to be a promising environment for developing automated systems with other
              organizations. The versatility of a standardized, easy method of retrieving information from internet
              participants brings the potential for developing inter-agency applications much closer. We have already
              used Web browsing to retrieve state data such as legislation and trawl survey fish indices, as well as
              dynamic queries for marine recreational fishery statistics from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

              Plans are underway to create a Commission home page by the end of the Summer of 1996. Initially,
              we will provide static data such as regulations and various public information documents; eventually
              we will add procedures to query our internal databases where possible and necessary.


























                                                                  3







           Cheasapeake Bay Information Network                               Page 1 of 2










                  IF


             Cht;aoape%ake @gay
                 Informafteon Xetwork

            The Chesapeake Bay Infonnation Network serves as a gateway to Internet resources on and
            about the Chesapake Bay.



                                                     11 Mr,







                        OVARNM






                            INME  -------                       -IRV.



           20  May 1996                                                          11:49 AM








           Cheasapeake Bay Information Network                                  Page 2 of 2

            If you have any questions or comments about the Chesapeake Bay Information Network
            please use our Comments -Page. Statistics for this site are available. Last update: 02,4pril
            1996.


























































           20 May 1996                                                               11:50 AM







            Marine Recreational Fisheries                                          Page 1 of 2


             Marine Recreational Fisheries










                                              In Memory of Dave Deuel, 1939-1995





                          IL
                         kv






             Do you want to know why we monitor marine recreational
             fishing?

             The importance of recreational fisheries was recognized in an Executive Orde signed by
             President Clinton in June 1995.



             While you're here, you may want to:

                 0   Learn about the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Surygy.
                 0   Access our data bases or download data files.
                 0   Find out about current hot topics nd research
                 0   Link to other ongoing marine recreational fishing surygeys.
                     Read about new NOAA contracts for the collection of recreational fisheries data



             Your escape back to the NMFS Statistics homevage is only a mouse click away.


            20 May 1996                                                                 11:39 AM








           Marine Recreational Fisheries                                        Page 2 of 2

            Our program helps to build sustainable -fisheries by assessing the status of marine
            recreationalfisheries resources and advancingfisheries prediction capabilities.



                  500 Visitors Since 4/16/96









                                                          Oq
                            IqA C"f 0


































           20 May 1996                                                               11:40 AM







           Virginia Institute of Marine Science                VIMS               Page 1 of 2






















                   Y AM,
                     N





             Virginia Institute
             of Marine Science

             School of Marine Science
             College of William and Mary

             Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062



             This is the Home Page.for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the School of
             Marine Science, College of William and Mary.

                ï¿½ Welcome and Overview
                0   Current Events & Seminars
                        a  Director for Research and Advisory Services, VIMS - Position
                           Announcement -100 1
                        0  Director of Planning and Budget, VIMS - Position Announcemen
                ï¿½   The Academic Program
                           School of Marine Science Catalop.,
                        ï¿½  Admission Informatio
                        ï¿½ Marine Science Internshipa -kt@:
                ï¿½   The Faculry
                ï¿½   Research Departments



            27 Mar   1996                                                             10:46 AM


Virginia Institute of Marine Science - VIMS  Page 2 of 2
Facilities
The VIMS/SMS Library
Vessel Operations Center
Information Technology and Networking Services
Other VIMS Pages and Information Resources
Search for VIMS people (names, phone and email addresses).

[Seminars VIMS/SMS Library VIMS Gopher W&M Home PAGE]

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062-1346
(804) 642-7000

Disclaimer and notes regarding these pages.

Any comments, questions or concerns please contace - [email protected]

Last Modified: 12/5/95

httpillvims.edu


27 Mar 1996                          10:47 AM







            http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                      Page 1 of 14


             VIMS Juvenile Fish & Blue Crab Trawl Survey

























                 ï¿½  INTRODUCTI
                 ï¿½  TRAWL SURVEY HISTORY
                 ï¿½  SURVEY GOAL
                 ï¿½  DATA HANDLING
                 ï¿½  SURVEY RESULTS
                 ï¿½  JUVENILE INDICES
                 ï¿½  PICTURES FROM THE SURVEY



             INTRO.DUCTION

             The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has conducted a trawl survey since 1955.
             The primary objective of the survey is to monitor trends in abundance of juvenile fish of
             about twenty recreationally, commercially, and ecologically important finfish and
             invertebrates. Currently, the survey samples waters from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay


            27 Mar 1996                                                               10:45 AM







             http://    www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                              Page 2 of 14

               up to the freshwater interface of the James, York, and Rappahannock Rivers. Samples from
               about 60 stations are collected every month of the year from the 28-foot research vessel Fish
               Hawk. At each station, a 30 foot wide shrimp trawl is towed for five minutes. Once on
               board, the catch is sorted by species, the number of fish of each species is counted, and a
               large proportion of the fish are measured. Each month, 20 to 50 thousand fish, crabs, and
               other invertebrates are processed. About 70 species are commonly caught though 223 have
               been identified over the last 40 years.

               The regularly scheduled nature of the survey provides an opportunity for other researchers to
               collect samples and conduct related research. Numerous student master's theses, doctoral
               dissertations, research reports, and scholarly papers have been written as a result of work
               from the VIMS Trawl Survey.

               Retum to Top



               TRAWL SURVEY HISTORY

               In April 1955, the survey began with a series of stations sampled in the mid-river channel, at
               approximately five mile intervals, from the mouth of the YorkRiver up to West Point
               (where the Pamunkey and the Mattaponi Rivers converge to form the York). Stations were
               sampled irregularly for the rest of that year. Since April 1956, these stations have been
               sampled almost continuously, at least for the months of April through November. Two or
               three stations in the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay, in the deep waters of the Chesapeake
               Channel, were also regularly sampled for several years, along with samplesfarther up into
               the Parnunkey River.

               In 1962, sampling of stations on the Rappahannock River commenced (though somewhat
               irregularly), and in 1964 stations on the James River were added. During some periods,
               samples were taken from the Potomac River, Mobjack Bay, and several smaller tributaries.
               Sporadically-, the Chesapeake Bay was sampled semi-annually until in 1988 regular sampling
               of the entire Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay began.

               Funding sources, and therefore the survey goals and methods, have changed several times
               over forty years. At times the primary target species have beensciaenids (spot, croaker,,
               weakfish), anadromous species (shad, river herring, striped bass, white perch), and blue
               crabs. During some years and general monitoring has been the focus.

               The trawl gear has been modified several times, affecting the kind and size of fish captured.
               Originally, the gear did not have a small mesh liner so smaller species such as bay anchovy,
               and small individuals of other species were not caught. In 1973, a "tickler chain," which stirs
               up and increases the catch-of bottom-dwelling species (such as blue crabs and flatfish), was
               added. The liner was added in 1979. The gear has been essentially unchanged since then,
               except that the "doors" (wings which pull the mouth of the net open as it travels through the
               water) were changed in 199 1. This change did not significantly alter the catch. Recently,
               extensive sampling has been done using these various gear configurations to standardize the


              27 Mar 1996                                                                           10:45 AM







              http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                                    Page 3 of 14

                catch rate associated with each gear combination.

                Retum to T6Q



                SURVEY GOAL

                The current primary goal of the survey is to develop "indices of abundance" for a number of
                recreationally, commercially, and otherwise ecologically important species. These indices
                measure the relative size of each "year class" for each target species. Calculation of the index
                is basically an average catch-per-tow computation, after the data are statistically treated to
                minimize the effect of extremely high and low catches.

                Most species targeted by this survey are available to the survey nets for a limited amount.of
                time during the year, because of seasonal abundance. Further, many species have a limited
                geographic range within the Bay and its tributaries. For each species then, only the three or
                four months of highest abundance are used in computation of the index; and only the areas
                in which each species is most plentiful are included for the index. For some species this is
                all river and Bay segments, for others only the Bay or subsections of the Bay are used, and
                for still others only the rivers or river segments are used.

                For most target species, individuals become susceptible to, or can be caught     by, the survey
                nets several months after hatching, when they are referred to as Age 0 or "juvenile" fish.
                Some species are also (or exclusively) caught as older individuals. For some species this
                group of older fish is only one year class and for other species it is several. Indices are also
                calculated for these older groups. Where these indices clearly represent only one year class
                they are labeled as "Age 1 "; where they include several year classesthey are referred. to as
                "Age 1+".

                The utility of juvenile indices is that they provide a snapshot of the size of -each year class
                and can be used to forecast the relative number of adult fish one to several years later. When
                combined with other surveys which sample adult fish, a comprehensive picture of the
                relative condition of a fish population can be compiled. Indeed, the VIMS Trawl Survey is
                just one element of a VIMS comprehensive fish monitoring program which includes beach
                seine surveys targeting striped bass, white perch, and bluefish; surveys which sample
                juvenile shad much farther upriver than the Trawl Survey; and pound net and gill net surveys
                which sample adult fish of several species. Because most of these species are migratory, the
                VIMS surveys are elements of multi-state monitoring efforts which support interstate fishery
                management plans.

                Retum to Top



                DATA HANDLING



               27 Mar 1996                                                                              10:45 AM







             http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                              Page 4 of 14

              Every month, scientists working on the VIMS Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey
              handle 20 to 50 thousand fish. Twenty to thirty percent (forty to fifty percent of fish other
              than bay anchovy) of these fish are individually measured. How does all of that data make its
              way into the historical data base?

              Until 1987, as one scientist measured a fish its length was called out another person would
              record the data, and later someone else would enter the data into a computer data base.
              Usually, most fish would have to be preserved in the field, brought back to the lab, and then
              processed. So much effort was required gathering and entering data that there was little time
              for subsequent analyses.

              In 1988, two years of development work came to fruition when use ofelectronic fish
              measuring- boards began in the field. These boards are connected to a computer running a
              data base program. As each fish is placed on the board, the operator touches a magnetic
              wand to the end of the fish' s tail, and the length is electronically recorded. Using these
              devices, almost all data are now entered directly in a computer data base, on board the
              research vessel, and few fish are ever brought back to the lab. Data are available for analysis
              within a couple of days of the field work.

              Retum to Top



              SURVEY RESULTS

              The attached graphs give survey results for the past 15 years for 28 species. Data for the
              years prior to 1979 are not presented because we are currently evaluating conversion factors
              to standardize the various gear modifications which were described earlier.

              The horizontal axis for each graph represents the 'year class' year for that species. For some
              species, we measure year class strength in the calendar year foilowing the year of hatching;
              therefore, there is no 1994 data for those species.

              Indices for Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), striped bass (Morone saxatilis),
              alewife (A losa pseudoharengus), and American shad (Alosa sapidissima) are based on only
              river samples and are presented for only'one year class. Computations for windowpane
              Scophthalmus aquosus), smallmouth Rounder (Etropus microstomus), striped anchovy
              Anchoa he etus), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), scup (Stenotomus chrysops),
                        PS
              butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), harvestfish (Peprilus alepidotus), northern puffer
              Sphoeroides maculatus), inshore lizardfish (Synodusfoetens), and northern searobin
              Prionotus carolinus) are based on only Chesapeake Bay samples so only one index is
              presented and-with data only from 1988 to the present.

              For some species more than one index is shown. There are three situations where this
              occurs:
                       For spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), silver perch
                       B.airdiella chrysoura), summer flounder or fluke (Paralichthys dentatus), bay


             27 Mar 1996                                                                        10:45 AM






             http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                            Page 5 of 14

                      anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), spotted hake (Urophycis regia), and black seabass
                      Centropristis striata), the most reliable index is based on both Chesapeake Bay and
                      river samples. However, since the Bay stations have only been regularly sampled
                      under the present format since 1988, a "Rivers Only" index is also presented in
                      order to give the longest possible view of the data.
                  ï¿½   For blackcheek tonguefish (Symphurusplagiusa), hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus),
                      channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), white catfish (Ictalurus.catus), blue catfish (
                      ktalurusfurcatus), and white perch (Morone americana), both Age 0 and Age 1(+)
                      indices are shown.
                  ï¿½   For blue crabs, both an index for "juvenile" (up to about 65mm. or 2Y2") crabs which
                      will enter the fishery several months later, and one for "recruits" (those either just
                      under or already at legal size) are presented.

              The methods we use to calculate indices of abundance from the VIMS Trawl Survey data
              sets are constantly under review. The " cut-off lengths" used to separate young-of-year from
              older fish, along with the geographic and temporal data limits used for each species, may -
              change as more study is done. Therefore, though we are confident that any trends seen in the
              abundance graphs are real, the actual index of abundance values may change somewhat as
              our methods are improved.

              Retum to Top

              TO VIEW DATA ON JUVENILE INDICES, CLICK BELOW..

              Sciaenids (Drums)

              Pleuronectiforms fflounders & soles)

              Blue Crabs

              Ictalurids

              Anadromous Species

              Forage Fish
         ...I.i.Coastal Species
              Miscellaneous Specie



              Sciaenids (Drums)

              Spot (Leistomus xanthurus)


             27 Mar 1996                                                                      10:45 AM


http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.html      Page 6 of 14

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Silver Perch (Bairdiella chrysoura)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

View Indices for Other Species Groups

Return to Top

Pleuronectiforms (flounders & soles)

27 Mar 1996                         10:45 AM

http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.html   Page 7 of 14

Summer Flounder (Paralychthys dentatus)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Blackcheek Tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Windowpane (Scophthalmus aquosus)

Table of Indices

Graph of Indices

Species Information

Smallmouth Flounder (Etropus microstomus)

Table of Indices

27 Mar 1996        10:45 AM






        http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1    Page 8 of 14
        graph of Indices


              Species Information

         View Indices for Other Species Groups

         Return to Top



         Blue Crabs (Calinectes sapidus)

         Juveniles (Age 0)
         Table of lndices
         Graph of Indices


          Species Information

         Recruits (Age 1+)
         Table of Indices
         Graph of Indices
         Species Information

         View Indices for Other Species Groups

         Return to Top



         Ictalurids (Catfish)

         Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus



        27 Mar 1996                                              10:45 AM






            http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1          Page 9 of 14

             Table of Indices
             qraph of Indices


             Species Information

              White Catfish (Ictalurus catus)

               Table of Indices

              Graph of Indices



                     Species Information

              Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

               Table of Indices
               Graph of Indices





                     Species Information

              View Indices for Other Species Groups

              Return to Top



              Anadromous Species

              Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
               Table of Indices
              Graph of Indices


                     Species Information

              White Perch (Morone americana)


             27 Mar 1996                                                       10:45 AM








            http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1     Page 10 of 14
            Table of Indices
            Graph of Indices


                     Species Information

              Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

              Table of Indices
              Graph of lndices


                      Species Information

              American Shad (Alosa sapidissima)



              Table of Indices
              Graph of Indices

                    Species Information

              View Indices for Other Species Groups

              Return to Top



              Forage Fish

              Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli)

              Table of Indices

               Graph  of Indices



              Species Information
              


              Striped Anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus)


            27 Mar 1996                                     10:45 AM







               http: //www.vims. edu/fish/ trawlsurvey/ index. html                             Page 11 of 14


                          Table of Indices


                         Graph of Indices



                         Species Information

                 Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia)

                       Table of Indices


                         Graph of Indices



                         Species Information

                 View Indices for Other Species Groups

                 Return to Top



                 Coastal Species

                 Scup (Stenotomus chrysops)
                 
			Table of lndices
                  Graph of Indices


                         Species Information

                 Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus)
                 Table of lndices
                       Graph of lndices


                         Species Information
                 




















               27 Mar 1996                                                                                  10:46 AM
 







            http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.htm1                            Page 12 of 14

              Harvestfish (Peprilus alepidotus)


                  
                      Table of Indices



                     Graph of Indices



                     Species Information

              Spotted Hake Urophycis regia)

                      Table of Indices


                     Graph of Indices



                     Species Information

              View Indices for Other Species Groups

              Return to Top



              Miscellaneous Species

              Black Seabass (Centropristis striata)
               (Image) Table of Indices
              (image) Graph of Indices


                     Species Information

              Northern Puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus)
                (Image)Table of Indices
              Graph of Indices












              

              
             27 Mar 1996                                                                      10:46 AM
 






            http://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.html                     Page 13 of 14



                     Species Information

             Inshore Lizardfish (Synodus foetens)

              (image) Table of Indices

              (Image) Graph of Indices


                     Species -Information

             Northern Searobin (Prinotus carolinus)

              (Image)  Table of Indices

              (Image)   Graph of Indices
                         


                     Species Information

             View Indices for Other Species Groups

             Return to Top



             A FEW SELECTED PICTURES

                 ï¿½   Captain Estes - Can I check your oil too ma'am?
                 ï¿½   Captain Gerdes - With an atypical catch.
                 ï¿½   Pat Geer - Taking water quality data.
                     Joy Dameron - At the measuring board.
                     Todd Mathes - Which one is Todd?
                     Mike Land - How many have I measured today?
                     Dave Hata - We need more comparison tows!
                     Pat Geer and Mark Terwilliger with another typical catch.
                     Mike Seebo and a friend.
                     Al Curry and Pat Geer at the cull table.
                     Three Men and a Turtle.
                     Four at the cull table.



            27 Mar 1996                                                                 10:46 AM
 




                                                                           NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CTR LIBRARY


                                                                           3 668 14111976 0
          httP://www.vims.edu/fish/trawlsurvey/index.html                   Page 14 of 14

                   The Fish Hawk.
                   The Fish Hawk again.
                   And again.
                   Hauling the net in.
                   Sort through this for every bay anchovy.!?X{&%?
                   Sponge Crabs.
                   A selection of weakfish from a single tow.
                   The start of a cold day.
                   Broken down again?
                   Trawl Survey Pinball.

            Return to Top



           Send any comments to cfb@vims. edu
                                                                           










































































           27 Mar 1996                                                             10:46 AM
 