Research Document - 2000/084

Stock structure and seasonal movements of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in NAFO Divs. 3KL inferred from recent tagging experiments.

By J. Brattey

Abstract

During 1 April - 3 December 1999, a total 8,825 cod (>45 cm fork length) were tagged with single, double, or high-reward t-bar anchor tags and released in Divs. 3KL at various inshore locations off the east and northeast coasts of insular Newfoundland, from Notre Dame Bay southward to St. Mary’s Bay. A total of 791 (9.0%) were reported as recaptured during 1999 from recreational, sentinel, directed commercial and by-catch fisheries. Percentage of tagged cod released prior to the fishery and reported as recaptured varied among areas, ranging from 28.6% (n=1420) in 3Ki (Fogo-Twillingate area) to 4.8% (n=1046) in Trinity Bay. Substantial recoveries (³ 7.2%) of cod tagged in various regions in southern 3L (Conception Bay southward) included many fall recaptures from neighboring Placentia Bay (Subdiv. 3Ps) where there was a directed cod fishery with landings during the last quarter of 1999 in excess of 7,500 t. The spatial and temporal distribution of recaptures is shown to be consistent with the results of other recent (1995-1998) tagging studies from these areas. The results further support my previous conclusion that the inshore of 3KL is inhabited by at least two groups of cod: (1) a northern resident coastal group that inhabits an area from western Trinity Bay northward through Bonavista Bay, the Fogo-Twillingate area, to western Notre Dame Bay, and (2) a migrant group from inshore and offshore areas of 3Ps that moves into southern 3L during late spring and summer and returns to 3Ps during fall. The timing of movement and northward extent of this migrant group may vary among years; however, during 1997 to 1999 few migrants appear have moved further north than Trinity Bay.

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