Affiliation:
1. Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
2. Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3, Canada.
Abstract
The stock structure of Canada’s Northern cod (Gadus morhua), the largest of many depleted groundfish stocks having multiple spawning areas, is rebuilding by redistribution and not solely by local population growth. In 2007–2008, late winter acoustic surveys suggested initial rebuilding in the southern-most part of the offshore range (Bonavista Corridor, NAFO Divisions 3KL), likely including fish dispersing from the inshore. Thereafter, acoustically determined biomass increases averaged 30% per annum (to near 240 000 t in 2014). In contrast, formerly dominant stock areas farther north retained few fish, mostly juveniles. In 2015, however, biomass in the northern stock range (NAFO Division 2J) reached 65 000 t and mid-north Notre Dame Channel (3K) reached 101 000 t, with Bonavista Corridor declining to 136 000 t. Biomass pooled over all surveyed regions totaled 302 000 t, consistent with sustained 30% growth. Latitudinal gradients in cod size, age distributions, and individual growth existed both historically and recently, but not in 2015. The evidence suggests that the rapid increases of depopulated northern groups resulted from redistribution from the south within a metapopulation.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Aquatic Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
15 articles.
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