Evaluation of Annual Variability of Atlantic Cod Condition Levels in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Description

Information about cod condition (health) is an important component of cod stock assessments. This project examines annual variations in the condition levels of Atlantic Cod in NAFO ^{Footnote 1} Divisions 3Pn and 4RS in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Cod condition in the area varies seasonally, with the maximum occurring in the fall and the minimum in April-May, prior to the spawning period. It is, therefore, important to assess different condition factors (length, sex, maturity, total weight, and gonad, liver and stomach content weight) at different times of the year. These factors reflect the energy reserves accumulated by cod, which are particularly critical in late fall since they must be sufficient for the fish to survive the winter and spring spawning period.

Whole cod samples—collected from January to December since 1998 through the fixed-gear sentinel survey in NAFO Divisions 3Pn, 4RS—will be analyzed to calculate two condition indices, providing information about cod condition in the northern Gulf throughout the year. Cod condition data informs the 3Pn 4RS cod stock assessment and are included in the Department’s Stock Advisory Report.

Program Name

Fisheries Science Collaborative Program (FSCP)

Year(s)

2003 -

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic: Gulf of St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence Estuary

Principal Investigator(s)

Claude Brassard
Fisheries and Oceans Canada