Background information on the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock for the Fisheries Oceanography Committee workshop on the cod recruitment dilemma / D.P. Swain and G.A. Chouinard.: Fs70-1/2000-142E-PDF

Spawning stock biomass (SSB) of southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod declined to low levels in the mid 1970s and the early 1990s. Recovery was rapid from the earlier decline but has been slow from the recent decline. Both survey data and SPA estimates indicate that the rate of recruitment was remarkably high during the low abundance period of the mid 1970s. Recruitment rate estimates for the recent period depend on the SPA assumptions and calibration methods. However, neither the survey data nor the SPA estimates indicate that recruitment rate has been unusually low during the recent period of low abundance. Instead, estimates of recruitment rates in recent years range from average levels typical of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s to relatively high levels. Adult growth rates have been unusually low since the mid 1980s and adult natural mortality appears to be currently unusually high. The rapid recovery in the mid 1970s resulted from unusually high recruitment rates combined with high adult growth rates and average natural mortality rates of adults. Recovery has not occured in the 1990s despite low fishing mortality and average to high recruitment rates. The lack of recovery in the 1990s appears to be the result of unusually low growth rates and unusually high adult natural mortality rates.

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Publication information
Department/Agency Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Canada. Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat.
Title Background information on the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock for the Fisheries Oceanography Committee workshop on the cod recruitment dilemma / D.P. Swain and G.A. Chouinard.
Series title Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat research document, 1480-4883 ; 2000/142
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) Includes bibliographic references (p. 7).
Publishing information Ottawa : Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2000.
Author / Contributor Swain, D. P.
Chouinard, G. A. (Ghislain André)
Description 11 p. : fig., graphs.
Catalogue number
  • Fs70-1/2000-142E-PDF
Subject terms Fisheries resources
Salt water fish
Fishing area
Fisheries management
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