Abstract
The Danish Institute for Fisheries Research and Bornholm's Salmon Hatchery examined the potential for restocking Baltic cod (Gadus morhua callarias L.) in the eastern Baltic Sea. This cod population has adapted to the unique brackish water conditions where successful spawning depends on regular inflows of oxygenated saltwater from the North Sea. Hydrographical conditions are therefore considered to constitute the principal bottleneck for recruitment of this population. Successful recruitment is also dependent upon food availability and predation pressure from mainly herring (Clupea harengus L.) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus L.). A 2-to 3-month delay in the spawning period compared to 20–30 years ago has altered feeding conditions and predation susceptibility in a way that may have exacerbated the decline in recruitment. Producing and releasing cod larvae during spring would mimic the spawning period recorded in previous times and would coincide with the spring peak in copepod production. An evaluation of 3 different release scenarios showed that a release of 474 million first-feeding larvae over 5 months would enhance the average population of 2-year-olds by 10% and be biologically and economically the most feasible scenario.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
