Scemfis (Science Center for Marine Fisheries): Programs and Progress

The National Science Foundation I/UCRC Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS) was established in June 2013. The center has two sites: University of Southern Mississippi and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). SCeMFiS employs academic, recreational, and commercial fisheries resources to study urgent scientific problems limiting sustainable fisheries. SCeMFiS seeks simultaneously to achieve the goals of sustainable fish and shellfish stocks and sustainable fish and shellfish fisheries. Achievements in 2015 include: (a) a management strategy evaluation model for surfclams was implemented to identify management options for improving LPUE and increased stock abundance; (b) a sex-specific model for summer flounder was developed in response to a primary research goal identified by the last benchmark assessment; (c) information was provided to the NEFMC that resulted in a one-year gear exemption for the surfclam fishery in the Grand South Channel and Georges Shoals Habitat Management Areas; (d) the invention of a new survey dredge was highlighted in the 2016 Compendium of Industry-Nominated Technological Breakthroughs for NSF I/UCRCs, and (e) the first population age-frequency distribution for the Mid-Atlantic stock of ocean quahogs was developed in response to an important data constraint on quotas for this industry as adjudged by the MAFMC SSC.