Stock structure of Icelandic cod Gadus morhua L. based on otolith chemistry |
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| Authors: | I G Jónsdóttir †‡ S E Campana § G Marteinsdottir † |
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| Institution: | Department of Biology, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, Is-101 Reykjavík, Iceland; , Marine Research Institute, Skúlagata 4, P. O. Box 1390, Is-121 Reykjavík, Iceland; and Population Ecology Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P. O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Otolith chemistry was used to study the stock structure of Icelandic cod Gadus morhua . Otoliths were collected from spawning cod at 12 and 17 different spawning locations around Iceland during the spawning season in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The otolith elemental composition of cod spawning north and south of Iceland differed substantially from each other, as did spawning cod below and above 125 m depth at the main spawning ground in the south of Iceland. Otolith chemistry differed more between locations than among years within a location, indicating temporal stability between the 2 years. The Icelandic cod stock is managed as a single stock. These results suggest, however, that optimal fisheries management may require different management units than are currently present. |
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| Keywords: | cod Gadus morhua otolith chemistry stock structure |
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