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Fishery Bulletin 91(1), 1993 



the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight, and the slow growth 

 and reproductive characteristics of this species, sug- 

 gest a need for a fisheries management plan to main- 

 tain the present stocks of tautog in Virginia's coastal 

 waters (and elsewhere). It has been shown that in- 

 tense fisheries directed at species exhibiting slow 

 growth rates and a habitat-restricted ecology affect 

 populations detrimentally (Manooch & Mason 1984, 

 Matheson & Huntsman 1984, Moore & Labisky 1984, 

 Harris & Grossman 1985, Matheson et al. 1986). Strong 



habitat preferences (hardbottom with structural relief), 

 slow growth rates, extended longevities (to 25+ yr), 

 and relatively long time to reach sexual maturity 

 (3+ yr), indicate that strategies applied to reef spe- 

 cies — the snapper-grouper cohort of Manooch (1979) — 

 may be applicable in managing tautog populations as 

 well. 



We suggest as a first step in managing stocks of 

 tautog in Virginia the imposition of size limits on fish 

 taken by recreational as well as commercial fishermen, 



