Catchability Variations of Cod in the Marginal Ice Zone

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Author: Fréchet, Alain
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1990
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f90-192; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f90-192

An analysis of results obtained during the winter groundfish surveys in the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 1978 was undertaken by relating the cod (Gadus morhua) catch to the distance from ice edge while taking temperature and depth variables into account. This analysis was prompted by anecdotal accounts and recently published data on increased abundance of many taxa related to an upwelling phenomenon in the marginal ice zone. Results indicate that large catches of cod occur in the marginal ice zone when depths are suitable. It is hypothesized that a strong thermal gradient close to the bottom would increase the concentration of cod and thus its catchability.