Fishery and environmental factors affecting trends and fluctuations in the Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod stocks: an overview ...

• Main Authors: Serchuk, Fredric M., Grosslein, Marvin D., Lough, R. Gregory, Mountain, David G., O´Brien, Loretta
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: ICES MSS Vol.198 - Cod and climate change 2023
• Subjects: Ecosystem observation, processes and dynamics; Fisheries and aquaculture; Pressures, impacts, conservation, and management; atlantic cod
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.19271183.v1; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/report/Fishery_and_environmental_factors_affecting_trends_and_fluctuations_in_the_Georges_Bank_and_Gulf_of_Maine_Atlantic_cod_stocks_an_overview/19271183/1

The Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod stocks have been commercially exploited for centuries, and continue today to support important commercial and recreational fisheries in both the United States and Canada. Prior to 1960, the two stocks were fished exclusively by the United States. During the 1960s, marked increases in exploitation occurred due to the development of Canadian and distant?water fisheries on Georges Bank. Total landings from the two stocks increased from 14 4001 in 1960 to 57 5001 in 1966, but subsequently declined to 30 0001 in 1976. Under extended fisheries jurisdiction - enacted in 1977 by both the USA and Canada - landings and stock sizes initially increased and a record-high catch (71 000 t) was attained in 1982. However, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, fishing effort and fishing mortality also increased to record-high levels, resulting in marked reductions in spawning-stock size. Research vessel indices, commercial c.p.u.e. indices, and VPA results all indicate that ...