Quality Assurance and Quality Control: Ageing of Northwest Atlantic Species
It is important to ensure consistency in fish ages generated by a production ageing laboratory.
Fishery Biology Program staff regularly test themselves to ensure their ages are precise and accurate. This site reports the results of all such tests, using measures such as percent agreement and total coefficient of variance (CV). Please contact Sandy Sutherland for more information, including details of individual tests.
Summary of all precision tests, 2016-2020.
A perfect score is 100% agreement (0% CV); our standards require scores above 80% agreement & under 5% CV.
| Species | Number of Tests | Fish Aged | Fish in Tests | CV (%) | Agreement (%) |
| Acadian Redfish | 9 | 5,557 | 762 | 1.95 | 72.9 |
| American Plaice | 25 | 13,888 | 2,195 | 4.10 | 67.3 |
| Atlantic Cod | 30 | 24,847 | 2,356 | 0.13 | 99.5 |
| Atlantic Herring | 11 | 7,295 | 1,002 | 0.93 | 92.4 |
| Atlantic Mackerel | 19 | 7,618 | 1,400 | 0.77 | 97.5 |
| Atlantic Surfclam | 1 | 659 | 94 | 0.43 | 95.7 |
| Black Sea Bass | 27 | 15,617 | 2,154 | 2.40 | 86.6 |
| Bluefish | 7 | 2,173 | 439 | 2.48 | 89.3 |
| Butterfish | 15 | 8,237 | 993 | 4.32 | 88.1 |
| Golden Tilefish | 11 | 5,823 | 915 | 3.01 | 75.5 |
| Haddock | 28 | 35,182 | 2,611 | 0.42 | 97.2 |
| Pollock | 23 | 9,551 | 1,681 | 0.39 | 96.2 |
| Red Hake | 10 | 7,658 | 906 | 2.82 | 87.2 |
| Scup | 19 | 10,524 | 1,628 | 3.73 | 79.1 |
| Silver Hake | 30 | 23,823 | 2,525 | 1.60 | 94.1 |
| Summer Flounder | 29 | 17,300 | 2,440 | 1.86 | 89.5 |
| White Hake | 20 | 5,561 | 1,076 | 2.29 | 92.7 |
| Windowpane Flounder | 2 | 585 | 100 | 6.85 | 74.4 |
| Winter Flounder | 19 | 9,139 | 1,628 | 2.02 | 86.3 |
| Witch Flounder | 29 | 8,904 | 1,903 | 1.40 | 86.4 |
| Yellowtail Flounder | 38 | 15,771 | 2,663 | 1.79 | 90.7 |
Acadian Redfish
Image
Acadian redfish, also called ocean perch, is the only fish in the rockfish/ocean perch family in the Atlantic, compared to the more than 50 Sebastes species in the Pacific. The fish is called redfish in New England and Canada, but is not to be confused with redfish from the Gulf of Mexico (which is a drum). Acadian redfish are harvested year-round but harvests are usually largest during spring and summer in the Gulf of Maine.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Acadian Redfish
American Plaice
Image
American plaice is a species of flounder that is found in relatively deep water from southern Labrador on the eastern coast of Canada to Rhode Island.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for American Plaice
Atlantic Cod
Image
In the Northwest Atlantic, cod range from Greenland to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In U.S. waters, cod is most common on Georges Bank and in the western Gulf of Maine. Cod is an iconic fish of New England and in recent years, Atlantic cod stocks in our region have declined dramatically. NOAA Fisheries is working to rebuild this population.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Atlantic cod
Atlantic Herring
Image
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic herring is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Atlantic herring
Atlantic Mackerel
Image
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic mackerel is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Atlantic mackerel
Atlantic Surfclam
Image
Atlantic surfclams are distributed from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cape Hatteras, NC. The U.S. fishery generally concentrates on the populations off the coasts of New Jersey and the Delmarva Peninsula. Dredge and hand harvest are authorized in the commercial fishery, with hydraulic clam dredges being the primary gear type used. The recreational fishery is limited to hand harvest. Surfclams are generally processed for human consumption in soups, chowders, and stews; while a small portion of landings are also sold in the bait market. U.S. wild-caught Atlantic surfclam is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart E.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Atlantic Surfclam
Black Sea Bass
Image
The black sea bass fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Florida. Black sea bass are found in association with structured habitats. They migrate offshore and south in the fall, returning north and inshore to coastal areas and bays in spring. The black sea bass fishery predominantly uses trawls or rod and reel, but other gear includes longline, handline, pot, trap, gillnet, spear, and dredge. The market for black sea bass is for human consumption. U.S. wild-caught black sea bass is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart I.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Black sea bass
Bluefish
Image
The Atlantic bluefish fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Florida. Bluefish are highly migratory along the U.S. Atlantic coast and seasonally move. The bluefish fishery predominantly uses gillnets, but other gear includes hook and line, pound nets, seines, and trawls. The recreational fishery accounts for the majority of the bluefish total catch each year. The market for bluefish is for human consumption and is primarily sold fresh or smoked. U.S. wild-caught bluefish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart J.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Bluefish
Butterfish
Image
U.S. wild-caught butterfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Butterfish
Cusk
Image
Cusk is a deep water species found in rocky, hard bottom areas to a depth of 328 feet. It is a very unique species of fish as it's the only one in its taxonomic genus of Brosme. Cusk is relatively slow-growing and late-maturing, and the maximum age of this species is believed to be greater than 14 years.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Cusk
Golden Tilefish
Image
Golden tilefish are found along the outer continental shelf and slope from Nova Scotia, Canada to Suriname. The golden tilefish fishery in the U.S. is managed from Maine through Virginia, with the majority of the fishery concentrated between Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, south to Cape May, New Jersey; more specifically between Hudson and Veatch Canyons. The commercial fishery predominantly uses longline gear, although handline, rod and reel, and trawl gear are also authorized. Only rod and reel gear is allowed in the recreational golden tilefish fishery. The market for golden tilefish is for human consumption and is often used in sushi. U.S. wild-caught golden tilefish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart N.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Golden Tilefish
Haddock
Image
Haddock are found on both sides of the North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic, they’re found from Newfoundland to Cape May, New Jersey, and are most abundant on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Haddock
Pollock
Image
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic pollock is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Pollock
Red Hake
Image
The red hake fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Along with silver hake and offshore hake, it is a part of the small-mesh multispecies fishery, which is managed primarily through a series of exemptions from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (or groundfish fishery). The directed commercial fishery is conducted with small-mesh trawl gear with a number of specific requirements to reduce bycatch of larger groundfish species. There are two stocks of red hake (northern and southern) which are managed accordingly. The market for small-mesh multispecies is human consumption and as bait. U.S. wild-caught red hake is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart F.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Red Hake
Scup
Image
The scup fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Scup undergo an extensive migration between coastal waters in the summer and offshore waters (outer continental shelf) in winter. They migrate offshore and south in the fall, returning north and inshore to coastal areas and bays in spring. The scup fishery predominantly uses trawls or handlines, but other gear includes longline, rod and reel, pot, trap, gillnet, spear, and dredge. The market for scup is for human consumption. U.S. wild-caught scup is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart H.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Scup
Silver Hake
Image
There is little to no separation of silver hake and offshore hake in the market, and both are generally sold under the name “whiting.” The whiting fishery in the United States operates from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Along with red hake, whiting are part of the small-mesh multispecies fishery, which is managed primarily through a series of exemptions from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (or groundfish fishery). The directed commercial fishery is conducted with small-mesh trawl gear with a number of specific requirements to reduce bycatch of larger groundfish species. There are two stocks of silver hake (northern and southern), and one stock of offshore hake, which primarily co-occurs with the southern stock of silver hake. The market for small-mesh multispecies is human consumption and as bait. U.S. wild-caught whiting is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart F.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Silver Hake
Summer Flounder
Image
The summer flounder fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to the North Carolina/South Carolina border. Summer flounder is one of the most sought after commercial and recreational fish along the Atlantic coast. Summer flounder is found in inshore and offshore waters from Nova Scotia, Canada, to the east coast of Florida. Summer flounder are mainly caught in bottom otter trawls, but are also taken by pound nets and gillnets in estuarine waters. The market for summer flounder is for human consumption and is primarily sold fresh. U.S. wild-caught summer flounder is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart G.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Summer Flounder
White Hake
Image
White hake, also known as mud hake, are a species of groundfish that live in the deeper northwestern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. They are often compared to Atlantic cod and haddock in their physical appearance and taste.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for White Hake
Windowpane Flounder
Image
Windowpane flounder are found in the northwest Atlantic from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida in relatively shallow water. We manage two stocks of windowpane flounder in U.S. waters: Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank windowpane flounder, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic windowpane flounder.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Windowpane Flounder
Winter Flounder
Image
U.S. wild-caught winter flounder is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Winter Flounder
Witch Flounder
Image
Witch flounder is a right-eyed species of flounder. Witch flounder have a relatively small head, small mouth, and narrow body. Witch flounder are covered in smooth scales. Witch flounder have approximately 12 indentations on the underside (blind side) of their head. The top side (eyed side) of a witch flounder is generally grayish-brown in color, while the bottom side is white and covered with tiny dark dots. The top side pectoral fin is dusky or even black with a narrow light distal border.
Results of all QA/QC Exercises for Witch Flounder
Yellowtail Flounder
Image
Yellowtail flounder live along the Atlantic coast of North America from Newfoundland to the Chesapeake Bay. There are three stocks in U.S waters: the Gulf of Maine/Cape Cod, Georges Bank, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic stocks, all of which NOAA Fisheries is working to rebuild.