Does anyone know the deal with these "EMD"s?

I was out this week sitting in a stew of pogies and noticed quite a few of these monitoring devices floating around. I saw them last week too which peaked my curiosity. I did a little research and think I have an idea...

Based on what I've read on the taking of Menhaden

(R.I.-DEM (http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/fishwild/rimf16.pdf)) 16.2.5 "Biomass Floor" ......"On an annual basis beginning every spring, the DFW, utilizing approved scientific monitoring methods, shall conduct regular estimates of the weekly standing stock of menhaden present in the management area. On the basis of those estimates, the DFW shall issue a notice when the estimated weekly standing stock reaches a threshold of 1,500,000 pounds, and the DFW shall open the commercial fishery, at an initial possession limit of 120,000 pounds per vessel per calendar day, when the estimated weekly standing stock reaches 2,000,000 pounds."

If it's what I think it is, these "scientific monitoring methods" assess the amount of Menhaden within this management area. (???)
If I'm correct, how is this so? These schools constantly circle around, whether on their own or with the tide stages...how does this "monitoring device" determine what they've already counted? How does it determine whether or not a school is sitting right on it continually schooling around the device?

I hope I'm wrong on what I think because this doesn't really make much sense.

Can someone "in-the-know" elaborate on this subject please?


Flipping the page, but within the same book, on my last day out I had the privilege of witnessing the pogy-hawk circling above...and the next thing you know, Ahab appeared out of no-where and sent out the tin-man to corral one of the MANY large schools. ARK Bait was all over them. In a 6 hour span, they wiped out most of the larger schools...:realmad::crying::crying::realmad:...I understand that they're within their legal rights, but man.....it always hurts to witness it. I got up real close to see of any possible by-catch, but got disgusted at the rec. boats pulling up with dip-nets for their free fill of their live-wells. Not sure what pissed me off more, all the above, or the fact that I probably would have pulled right up myself if my 13' dory had one...:confused:

120,000 #s per vessel per day....OUCH!!!

never heard of them, are they anchored ?, marked ?

Gilly ,
I maybe wrong , But I believe most of their data is observation .
By plane & when they can by HELO ..

Did you get another boat / I know where they are making most of their sets ><><,

never heard of them, are they anchored ?, marked ?

They are clearly marked and anchored. Big 4' Yellow cans with what looks like a transmitting beacon on top. Big black letters..."Environmental Monitoring Device"....with a telephone number listed below, painted right on them.,,,I almost tied up to one of them, but figured that wasn't a good idea :D

They look fairly new. I did not see them 2 weeks ago. You can't miss them if they're within the vicinity, and they're within this management area



Mike, based on that "R.I. Statutes and Regulations" form, they "scientifically monitor" ??? That's why I thought these things were it...:confused:
How do they visually guess 2,000,000 #s??? What the hell do I know, just a dumb-green from the city..:smash:

Not new, I got a 13' Stur-Dee, on the old side, but does the trick (15hp)....takes me about 4 days from my house to your house...but gets there. Looks really sexy with pogy blood all over it...:jump1:

the 16" is a great boat .

yes, that I know for sure that they get there fish estimate by plane.

there are a couple of guys on this site that don,t post , But if they would .. they can tell you exactly how they get there ..in the bay & what,s been caught count ..

I have no clue on the yellow balls / I did hear about BLUE BALLS ><><><>:devil2:

I'm no help here but I did get a decent size striper who wrapped itself around a float for a tracking beacon buoy that they use to monitor the migration of the brown sand tiger sharks of Dux Bay. I was well up in the Jones River anchored. Hooked it 50 yards away and the fish kept peeling line and bee lines it to this buoy. I motored up to the buoy and unwrapped him. It was kind of funny at the time.

I'm pretty sure I know what markers you are talking about and couldn't figure it out myself?

They are clearly marked and anchored. Big 4' Yellow cans with what looks like a transmitting beacon on top. Big black letters..."Environmental Monitoring Device"....with a telephone number listed below, painted right on them.,,,I almost tied up to one of them, but figured that wasn't a good idea :D

They look fairly new. I did not see them 2 weeks ago. You can't miss them if they're within the vicinity, and they're within this management area



Mike, based on that "R.I. Statutes and Regulations" form, they "scientifically monitor" ??? That's why I thought these things were it...:confused:
How do they visually guess 2,000,000 #s??? What the hell do I know, just a dumb-green from the city..:smash:

Not new, I got a 13' Stur-Dee, on the old side, but does the trick (15hp)....takes me about 4 days from my house to your house...but gets there. Looks really sexy with pogy blood all over it...:jump1:

The yellow buoys are probably the Narragansett Bay Commission (Sewer guys) monitoring buoys. They are scattered about the upper Bay. Clammer is #%$&^$%^#&^$#& rught, they use planes to spot the schools...

Hey Bloo,

These could be the Narragansett Bay Water Quality Monitoring Network buoys that measure a number of issues including hypoxic events.

Hi Mike,

Hope things are going well for you and the family. Sounds like you and/or RRHound are right on the money.


Here's a picture of that device, little blurry <sorry> ... but thanks for the feedback everyone.

I was told this morning by an extremely credible source, that the latest spotter-plane(s) report...came back with a "guess-timate" of 5.5 million pounds!!!! WOWZA...once that fishery closes, does it reopen???.....

It is better than it was. They cannot go north of Conimicut Light nor can they go into Wickford or EG. Not sure about Mount Hope.

There are enough pogies from Bullocks Point north to keep everyone happy. I haven't spent more than 10 minutes snagging to fill my live well.