13-25 



SUMMATION 



Resident populations of many animals and plants in New Haven 

 Harbor, particularly in the inner harbor, exhibit lower abundance and 

 diversity than is characteristic of a healthy estuary in the same bio- 

 geographic zone. Pollution-indicator and pollution-resistant species 

 are well represented, although many organisms associated with healthy 

 environmental conditions also persist. Species successional patterns, 

 propagation, and food-chain associations remain characteristic of the 

 Long Island Soiond biogeographic zone. 



A reduced commercial oyster fishery remains in the outer 

 harbor and adjacent areas of the soiand utilizing new cultch to obtain 

 oyster spat spawned in the Morris Creek area. This area is, in fact, 

 reputed to be among the best in Long Island Sound for natural oyster 

 set. Nearly grown oysters are transferred to cleaner areas before 

 marketing. Historical "oyster grounds" in the inner harbor area are now 

 largely defunct due to unacceptable substrate conditions. 



Plankton populations in the harbor are, in general, repre- 

 sentative of Long Island Sound waters. Phytoplankton densities are 

 generally higher than Sound waters, due to nutrient enrichment from 

 domestic sewage, and blooms are common. Seasonal patterns are con- 

 sistent from year to year. 



New Haven Harbor is inhabited, or visited, by many economi- 

 cally important finfish and shellfish, and remains important to local 

 sport fishermen. The harbor is a spawning ground for anchovies and sand 

 lance: for most other species, early life stages found in the harbor 

 are recruited. Large niimbers of juveniles of many species, including 

 winter flounder and weakfish, indicate the importance of the harbor as a 

 consistent seasonal nursery area. 



Benthic populations are characterized by opportunistic taxa 

 which display variable seasonal and annual distributions as measured by 



