Growth, temperature and density relationships of North Sea cod ( Gadus morhua )

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Rindorf, Anna, Jensen, Henrik, Schrum, Corinna
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Erhvervsfiskeri; Gadus morhua
• Online Access: https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/4b8aa0ed-267a-4802-a510-e1f979986fa2; https://doi.org/10.1139/F07-150; https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/134897301/Postprint.pdf

This study presents an analysis of the relationship between ambient temperature, cod density, fishing mortality, prey fish biomass, and growth of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) as estimated from survey catches during the period from 1983 to 2006. Growth of young cod was positively related to temperature; however, although temperature increased, distribution of 1-year-olds changed concurrently and no increase in length at age 1 occurred. Growth from age 1 to age 2 decreased as ambient biomass of sandeel and density of cod decreased, whereas growth of cod older than 2 years decreased with increasing density of cod and increased with increasing biomass of demersal fish prey. Though growth of juveniles was strongly positively correlated to ambient temperature, no indication of direct temperature limitation of growth of older North Sea cod was found.