Tracking Cod Movements and Assessing Potential Stock Mixing through the Strait of Belle Isle

Description

During 2017-19, Claude Brassard, a Biologist at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Quebec, is leading a team of researchers, technicians, and fish harvesters who are tagging and tracking fish to improve knowledge about Atlantic Cod in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. By combining acoustic tag releases with conventional tagging, results from the project will improve knowledge of the impact of fishing activities for use in current and future fisheries management decisions. High seasonal catch rates in the area raised questions for DFO and an industry partner, Fish Food and Allied Workers Union | Unifor (FFAW), which suggested that more data are needed about movements, migration, and mixing of fish stocks. The project will improve knowledge on biology and determine whether there is considerable movement of Atlantic cod between the Northern Gulf stock (NAFO Divs. 3Pn4RS) and the adjacent stock management area, Northern cod (NAFO Divs. 2J3KL), through the Strait of Belle-Isle.

Program Name

Fisheries Science Collaborative Program (FSCP)

Year(s)

2017 - 2019

Ecoregion(s)

Atlantic, Gulf of St. Lawrence

Principal Investigator(s)

Claude Brassard
DFO

Co-leader(s)

Erin Carruthers
Fisheries Scientist, Fish Food and Allied Workers Union | Unifor