Abstract

Though a commercial fishery for the channeled whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) has occurred since the 1980s along the US Mid-Atlantic, relatively few studies have been carried out on the reproduction and life history of this species despite their growing importance as a fishery product. Biological parameters used to construct management policy for the whelk (conch) fishery were those of the knobbed whelk, Busycon carica, a similar native species which largely inhabits tidal estuarine waters but not targeted within the conch off-shore trap fishery. An understanding of the sizes at which a fishery becomes reproductively mature is essential for management considerations. This research investigates the reproductive biology of the channel whelk population in the Mid-Atlantic region and in particular calculates the size and age at which the population becomes sexually mature. Spatial variations within the channeled whelk Mid-Atlantic resource area may have consequences in the implementation of minimum landing sizes for the fishery. Current results on whelk aging techniques, population size frequencies, and reproductive assessment will be presented with discussion on regional management implications.