Dead or alive—estimating post-release mortality of Atlantic cod in the recreational fishery ...

• Main Authors: Weltersbach, Marc Simon, Strehlow, Harry V.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: ASC 2013 - Theme session R 2024
• Subjects: Fisheries and aquaculture; The sea and human culture and societies; Pressures, impacts, conservation, and management; atlantic cod; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.24754032; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/Dead_or_alive_estimating_post-release_mortality_of_Atlantic_cod_in_the_recreational_fishery/24754032

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the most important commercial and recreational target species in European marine waters. Recent recreational fisheries surveys revealed that recreational cod catches and release rates are substantial compared to the commercial fishery, particularly in the western Baltic Sea. Despite high release rates, no literature exists exploring the post-release mortality of cod and potential sublethal effects after catch-and-release in recreational fisheries. This study investigates (i) the post-release mortality of undersized cod, (ii) potential factors affecting mortality, and (iii) consequences of the catch-and-release process on cod. During four experimental trials, western Baltic Sea cod were angled from a charter vessel and thereafter observed together with control fish in netpens for 10 d at holding temperatures between 6.2 and 19.8°C. Adjusted mortality rates for angled cod ranged from 0.0–27.3% (overall ...