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Cross-sector partnerships (CSP) are increasingly recognized as essential for addressing our world's mounting sustainability challenges. However, place is often considered merely as a contextual backdrop for these partnerships in CSP research. In this study, we focus on the ways in which place, including the natural, built, and cultural dimensions of geographic locations, is actively leveraged to facilitate cross-sector collaboration. Employing a qualitative and engaged research approach, we helped organize and studied two workshops held in small communities on the east coast of Canada whose goal was to build a cross-sector network of community leaders focused on revitalizing communities suffering from the collapse of their primary industry, the cod fishery. We show how the staging of place fostered deeper connections among participants by reducing barriers to participation, intensifying contact with others, and enabling participants to share local knowledge. In turn, connecting through place prompted participants to recognize a shared purpose and sense of belonging, two key elements for building cross-sector collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To what extent can a fish drive specific urban developments? This paper seeks to trace the links between fluctuations in the natural cod resources, the technologies used by fishermen to catch and process the fish, and the development of coastal landscapes and urban forms. The fishing port of Gafanha da Nazaré, near Aveiro on the River Vouga lagoon, is an example of the close relationship between the twentieth-century nationalist cultural construction in Portugal (in which cod fishing played a major role), the development of urban sprawls in new territories (independently from the old urban centres with ties to agriculture) and the fluctuations in the cod populations on the other side of the Atlantic. Despite the somewhat haphazard development of the fishing port between the 1920s and the 1970s, it nonetheless established the territorial dynamics that displaced the centre of local urban developments from the ancient urban core to new territories.

To what extent can a fish drive specific urban developments? This paper seeks to trace the links between fluctuations in the natural cod resources, the technologies used by fishermen to catch and process the fish, and the development of coastal landscapes and urban forms. The fishing port of Gafanha da Nazaré, near Aveiro on the River Vouga lagoon, is an example of the close relationship between the twentieth-century nationalist cultural construction in Portugal (in which cod fishing played a major role), the development of urban sprawls in new territories (independently from the old urban centres with ties to agriculture) and the fluctuations in the cod populations on the other side of the Atlantic. Despite the somewhat haphazard development of the fishing port between the 1920s and the 1970s, it nonetheless established the territorial dynamics that displaced the centre of local urban developments from the ancient urban core to new territories.

The article discusses the issues on privacy rights and data stewardship under the Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan Amendment 23's proposed electronic monitoring (EM). EM is being considered by the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) to monitor cod fishing activities and successfully rebuild cod stocks, particularly in the Gulf of Maine. Also cited is the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP).

Copyright of Annual Set the Environment Protection / Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska is the property of Koszalin University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract The quota market is the instrument through which fishing operations under an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system achieve greater efficiency. It allows fishing companies to optimally configure their quota portfolios to their catches. Globally, fisheries corresponding to ~25% of landings have adopted ITQ systems. However, there is surprisingly little empirical information on quota markets functioning. Here we study the development of quota share and lease markets and assess market activity and functioning for the cod fishery in Iceland. We use a social network analysis to assess changes in four Icelandic quota markets, distinguished by boat size (large versus small) and permanence of transfers (leases versus shares). The quota market for permanent trades in small-boat quota shows a sharp increase in trade and network connectivity between 2004 and 2006, resulting in a high rate of quota concentration. The quota markets for permanent quota shares were the most fragmented and sparse during the years of the financial crash in Iceland and never regain the same activity. Our results suggest that quota systems evolve towards a consolidated state and that their markets are not entirely resilient to financial instability. We also found some evidence that better-connected traders could sell quota at higher prices in the lease markets, though price dispersion was generally low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jelly and confectionery products are high in sugar and calories. Xylitol and stevioside are natural low-calorie sweeteners and they can be used as an alternative; however, their effects on fish gelatin are unknown. The gelatin was extracted from cod skins and added to xylitol or stevioside (0, 2, 6, 10, 14, and 20% (w/v)) to form gel products. This paper investigated how xylitol and stevioside affected the physical and rheological behaviors of fish gelatin, such as color, gel strength, texture profile analysis, storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and viscosity. Results showed that the change of color and viscosity in gel products were similar when various concentrations of xylitol or stevioside were added to the fish gelatin. But the effects of xylitol/stevioside on texture profile analysis and G′, G″ were different, which might due to the structure variation in xylitol and stevioside. The linear structure of xylitol resulted in ionic interaction, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic association between xylitol and fish gelatin. Therefore, xylitol is a promising sweetener substitute, which was probably related to its greater solubility and number of –OH groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish stocks represent fundamental units in fisheries management, and their identification, especially in mixed-fisheries, represents one of the primary challenges to sustainable harvest. Here, we describe the first “real-time” genetic management program used to manage a mixed-stock fishery of a non-salmonid and commercially significant marine fish, the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L). Based upon the analysis of >18 000 fish sampled from the commercial catch in Lofoten (Norway), which represents the largest remaining cod fishery in the Atlantic, we estimated the fraction of North East Arctic cod (NEAC), and Norwegian Coastal cod (NCC), just 24 h post-landing. These estimates, based upon the analysis of the Pantophysin gene, were performed weekly in the winter and spring of each year in the period 2007–2017. The program has successfully permitted the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries to actively manage the commercial exploitation of the highly abundant NEAC stock, while simultaneously limiting exploitation of the fragile NCC stock, both of which overlap at the spawning grounds. Data from this program have also revealed a distinct temporal increase in the fraction of NEAC on the spawning grounds in this region, which is consistent with the overall increased abundance of this stock as estimated by ICES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract From an ocean-basin collapse to a limited reopening, the Newfoundland northern cod fishery is challenged by ecological and economic sustainability. Pivotal factors influencing resource sustainability involve the use of gillnets as the main fishing method and the perception of cod as a low value commodity. Considering gillnetting and two other methods used in this fishery, hand-lines and Newfoundland cod pots, we identified and assessed strengths and weaknesses of each as a basis for best practices management decisions. This assessment involved multi-criteria evaluations based on "ideal gear properties" (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) adapted to incorporate criteria specific to this fishery. An index scoring system involving 20 ecological, economic and social criteria was developed and used to assess the three gears. Catch-related data collected onboard commercial fishing vessels and structured interviews on economic and social criteria assessments with fishers were collected. Literature reviews supplemented these data. Hand-lining scored the best results on each of the three criteria, with significant advantages (minimal ecosystem impacts; economic and social incentives for an adaptive accessible fishery). Newfoundland cod pots had the second most sustainable results (benefits for cod population, interesting work conditions). Though this gear had economic disadvantages, Newfoundland cod pots ensure best catches for a quality-based fishery. Despite being the fishing gear most commonly used, bottom-set gillnets are the least sustainable method. Catch-related advantages (efficiency, size selectivity) are not adapted to a new quality-based fishery. Restriction of gillnet fishing and promotion of complementary hand-lining and pot fishing would support a best practices more sustainable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most foods have either a neutral or a slightly acidic pH, whereas only a limited number of products have a pH above 8. The Nordic traditional fish dish lutefisk is an exception, with a pH around 12 during production and a ready for consumption pH above 10. Lutefisk is prepared from dried Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ), soaked in water and thereafter treated in a lye solution. During this process, the muscle proteins are partially hydrolyzed and a characteristic smell and a gel like appearance are developed. Due to its high pH, lutefisk has previously been considered not to harbour any microbiota. However, in our study of commercially available lutefisk , aerobic and anaerobic plate counts of up to 1.4 × 10 6 and 5.5× 10 4  CFU g −1, respectively were found. The pure culture isolates from Plate count agar, Iron agar Lyngby and Alkaline Nutrient agar, were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum , Pseudomonas fragi , Staphylococcus warneri , S. hominis , Aeromonas salmonicida , Kurthia zopfii , Microbacterium oxydans , Exiguobacterium oxidotolerans , Alishewanella tabrizica and Bacillus licheniformis . This is the first report on the microbiota of lutefisk based on cultivation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent environmental changes have influenced the ecology and biology of eastern Baltic cod. Declining somatic condition, maturation at smaller size and restricted size distribution of the population suggest that growth rates have decreased between the early 2000s and the 2010s. Extensive age estimation problems have until now precluded testing of this hypothesis. This study presents evidence for a decrease in somatic growth rate of Baltic cod. Temporal patterns of growth, condition and maturation were analysed based on two complementary analyses: length frequency mode progression derived from DATRAS bottom trawl survey data and known-age samples, where size at age was back-calculated from daily otolith growth patterns. In the known-age samples, growth was positively related to somatic condition at capture with maturity dependent differences. Immature individuals had experienced significantly lower growth and were in lower condition at capture than mature individuals. Growth rates in the known-age samples were estimated at 9.5, 7.8 and 5.7 cm per year for age classes 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Growth between age 2 and 3 decreased significantly from 8.8 cm in the 1997 year class to 7.6 cm in the 2010 year class. While the 2001 and 2004 known-age samples were representative for the population, the 2013 sample was biased towards individuals with a higher condition and growth. Complementary length frequency analysis following the length mode of fish from age 2 to age 3 confirmed growth estimates from the early 2000s, while suggesting a 37.5% lower growth in 2013 compared with 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability of commercial fisheries is best achieved when fishing gears are selective and have low impacts on bottom habitat. Pots (baited traps) are a fishing technology that typically has lower impacts than many other industrial gears. In this study we compared the efficiency of five models of pots (baited traps) designed to catch Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) for use in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)’s expanding cod fishery. We compared catch per unit effort (CPUE) and total lengths of cod across each pot type, as well as bycatch rates of each model. All pot types were successful at catching cod, but two models (the modified Newfoundland pot, and a four-entrance pot of our design) had highest CPUE. Specifically, we found that modifying Newfoundland pots increased their CPUE by 145% without a corresponding increase in bycatch. None of the pot types produced substantial amounts of bycatch. This study demonstrated that potting gear is an effective way to catch cod in NL, and that there is flexibility in which pot fishers can use, depending on the layout of their fishing vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study under which conditions a ‘window of opportunity’ for a change from an overfishing situation, with high fishing effort, but low stocks and catches, towards sustainable fishery management arises. Studying the Eastern Baltic cod fishery we show that at very low stock sizes (as they prevailed in the early 2000s) all interest groups involved in the fishery unanimously prefer maximum-sustainable-yield management (as prescribed by the management plan in place since 2007) over the previous overfishing situation. With increasing stock sizes, the present value of fishermen surplus would be higher when switching back to overfishing again, while other interest groups maintain their preference for sustainable fishery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fisheries management model that identifies the economic optimal management of fisheries under the influence of nutrients is presented. The model starts from the idea that growth in fish biomass increases with increasing availability of nutrients owing to higher food availability up to a peak, after which growth falls due to eutrophication. The model is applied to Swedish and Danish cod fisheries in the Western Baltic Sea and identifies the welfare contribution of the fisheries, measured as the sum of resource rent and producer surplus. In 2010, the welfare contribution was −28% of the landing value. Maximizing the model with respect to effort alone and additionally over nitrogen concentration increases the contribution to 11% of the landing value in 2010. The analysis shows that the welfare effect of reducing fishing effort through management reforms is large, but that the effect of incorporating nitrogen in fisheries policy is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many real world fisheries have an individual vessel quota system with restrictions on transferability of quota or entrance of new vessels into the fishery. While the standard economic reasoning is that these institutional constraints lead to welfare losses, the size of those losses and optimal second-best policies are usually unknown. We develop a dynamic bioeconomic model, in which a scientific body provides an optimal TAC given restrictions on (i) transferability between vessel segments and (ii) entrance of new vessels. Further, we also quantify welfare losses arising from not maximizing economic welfare, but physical yield—which is actually the case in many fisheries. We apply the model to the Northeast Arctic cod fishery, and estimate not only the cost and harvesting functions of the various vessel types, but also the parameters of the biological model aswell as those of the demand function. This allows us to determine optimal second-best policies and quantify corresponding welfare effects for our case study fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic History Research / Investigaciones de Historia Económica is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Historia Economica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate application of fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs) as cryoprotectants for cod fish mince subjected to freeze-thaw abuse. Response surface methodology revealed little difference in cryoprotectant ability between FPHs produced from Pacific hake muscle within the range of conditions studied, namely Flavourzyme® enzyme/substrate ratio (E/S 1–4%), time (1–6 h) and pH (5–7). When added at 4% or higher concentrations, FPH minimized expressible moisture and cook loss, while maximizing salt extractable protein from freeze-thaw abused fish mince, providing similar or better cryoprotection compared to an 8% sucrose-sorbitol blend, and a stabilizing effect of FPH on myosin was observed by differential scanning calorimetry. Sensory evaluation showed that addition of 8% FPH in fish ball products increased the perception of fishiness, saltiness, bitterness and firmness while decreasing moistness. FPH could be a viable alternative to the sugar-based cryoprotectants currently used for frozen fish products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic conditions greatly influence the distribution and abundance of marine organisms during early life-history phases. For instance, factors such as habitat heterogeneity often affect the dispersive phase of marine fishes, and then diminish in importance as species approach maturity and are influenced more so by biological processes. While recently settled fish are typically found in shallow, complex habitats such as seagrass beds, the degree to which juveniles associate with specific habitats as they grow and migrate into deeper water remains less clear. To better understand fish habitat preferences during early life-history phases, a literature review was conducted on habitat use by juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), followed by an evaluation of the relationships between habitat characteristics and bottom trawl, video and hook-and-line data in the western Gulf of Maine. The review revealed that juvenile densities, survival, and growth rates were higher in structured than in less complex habitats. Meanwhile, older juvenile cod that were sampled in the western Gulf of Maine were far more abundant on cobble and granule/pebble habitat than on mud or sand bottom. These results suggest habitat heterogeneity is tightly coupled with biological processes (e.g., predation), and its functional role extends well beyond settlement even for highly mobile species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Interactions of macromolecules with growing crystalline surfaces play an important role in biomineralization, determine survival of some organisms at low temperatures, and offer a range of potential industrial applications. The current understanding of crystal growth processes in the presence of macromolecules, including peptides and proteins, is reviewed, with a focus on interactions between macromolecules and surfaces of crystalline materials, macromolecule adsorption on different types of crystal surfaces, crystallization kinetics in the presence of macromolecular additives, macromolecule incorporation, and defect generation. Throughout, special attention is paid to the selectivity of macromolecule adsorption on, and incorporation within, crystal surfaces. The special role played by the size and complexity of macromolecules as compared to other crystallization additives is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a detailed bioeconomic model of the Norwegian coastal cod fishery. This fishery has been open access up to the policy change during the "cod crisis" of 1989/1990. To answer to what extent the subsequent increase in biomass and profits was due to improved management, we isolate the effect of environmental variability. Projecting stock and harvest forward in the counterfactual scenario of no intervention, we show that the policy had a small positive impact on biomass, but a pronounced positive effect on profits. The main drivers of profit gains are increases in productivity and savings in fuel and labor costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in computer vision and segmentation techniques, the segmentation of food defects such as blood spots, exhibiting a high degree of randomness and biological variation in size and coloration degree, has proven to be extremely challenging and it is not successfully resolved. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an approach for robust automated pixel-wise classification for segmentation of blood spots, focusing specifically on challenging texture-uniform cod fish fillets. A multimodal vision system, described in this paper, enables perfectly aligned RGB and D-depth images for localization of segmented blood spots in 3D. Classification models based on (1) Convolutional Neural Networks - CNN and (2) Support Vector Machines - SVM for the classification of defective fillets were developed. A colour-based, pixel-wise and SVM-based model was developed for accurate segmentation and localisation of blood spots resulting in 96% overall accuracy when tested on whole fillet images. Classification between normal and defective fillets based on GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) - accelerated CNN classification model achieved 100% accuracy, versus the SVM-based model achieving 99%. We present a novel data augmentation approach that desensitizes the CNN towards shape features and makes the CNN to focus more on colour. We show how pixel-wise classification is used for an accurate localization of blood spots in 3D space and calculation of resulting 3D gripper vectors, as an input to robotic processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability in the availability of suitable prey (mainly nauplii stages of Calanus spp.) in the early life stages of cod is likely a significant contributor to the fluctuations in the year-class strength in the Arcto Norwegian cod stock. We have investigated the origin of the Lofoten shelf population of Calanus using a particle tracking model approach based on velocity fields simulated from 2002 to 2012. By performing backwards simulations of trajectories from particles released on the Lofoten shelf in early spring, we assessed the relative contribution of potential Calanus sources, such as the Lofoten Basin, the local overwintering on the continental shelf and the adjacent fjords. This analysis revealed significant interannual differences in advection patterns mainly driven by changes in wind conditions and variable strength of the Norwegian Coastal Current. Most of the particles advected into our study area originated on the shelf, and contrary to expectations, only a few originated from the Lofoten Basin where Calanus abundances tend to be high. These results suggest that contribution from the Lofoten Basin to the early spring shelf Calanus population may be overestimated and that contribution from more local sources, especially from adjacent fjords, may play a more important role than what has been previously anticipated. Our results highlight the necessity to improve quantification of shelf-fjord exchange processes, as these may contribute more to the regulation of spring zooplankton stocks on the northern Norwegian shelf, and, as a result, may affect the survival of cod larvae in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the potential of modifications to standard fishery models (for example Gordon-Schafer-Munro) to help understand events such as the collapse of the North Atlantic cod fishery. In particular we find that quotadriven and similar harvesting strategies induce an effective strong Allee effect (collapse if the population falls below a critical level). In the presence of environmental noise, fish population dynamics is similar to a random walk with (non-linear) drift. The expected survival time (first passage time to collapse) is shown to depend sensitively upon the amount of environmental noise and size of the "safe zone" between the deterministic steady state population and the critical population level at which the system collapses; more precisely it is exponential in the cube of the size of the safe zone divided by the variance of the noise process. Similar scaling can be expected for more survival in more general systems with multiple steady states. Our calculations imply an amplification effect under which small increases in harvest yield large decreases in expected survival time, and one should be cautious in changes in harvesting, especially in fisheries with poor or limited data and fisheries affected by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ( ICES) was unexpectedly unable to provide an analytical assessment of eastern Baltic cod stock; factors such as data issues, assessment methodology, and the ecological situation of cod were indicated as the reasons for this failure. Some evidence suggests that the natural mortality ( M) of cod could increase substantially in forthcoming years and that the selectivity could change. In this paper, age-structured and stock-production assessment models were applied to simulate the dynamics of cod stock; in the models, both constant and increasing natural mortalities were permitted. In the age-structured model, the effects of selectivity related to the cod size on the cod assessment were also analysed. In addition, stock with characteristics similar to Baltic cod stock and increasing natural mortality was generated and assessed with the age-structured model using both constant and increasing M. It was shown that models with increasing natural mortality of cod in recent years perform much better than models with constant natural mortality in terms of the distribution of residuals and retrospective patterns. The models with size-dependent selectivity did not perform better than other standard assessments. The assessment of generated stock (where natural mortality was increasing) with constant natural mortality in the assessment model showed a poor distribution of residuals and strong retrospective patterns, similar to the ICES assessment with constant M. The conducted simulations strongly suggest that the main reason for the poor recent cod assessment is the increase in natural mortality, which is not considered in the assessment methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of political sectionalism surrounding cod fisheries and cod fishermen on the U.S. Atlantic Ocean coast during the antebellum period. The impact that the political issues of fisheries had on relations between U.S. Southern and Northern (and Northeastern) states is discussed.

Cod stocks in the North Sea, including the Kattegat and the Skagerrak, have declined dramatically since the 1970s. Occasionally there is a high recruitment of juveniles in Kattegat/Skagerrak, without leading to the rebuilding of adult cod stocks despite reduced fishing mortality. In a biophysical model of egg and larval drift, we examined the potential importance of extant and historical spawning grounds for recruitment of cod in the Kattegat/Skagerrak seas using data of spawning stock biomass from the 1970s and from today's reduced stocks. The results suggest that Kattegat in the 1970s relied on largely locally retained (83%) larvae with little annual variation in recruitment. Kattegat also provided a substantial proportion of larvae recruiting in Swedish Skagerrak (72%). This is in contrast to present conditions where the Kattegat spawning stock has been reduced by 94%, and Kattegat only provides 34% of locally retained larvae and 30% to Swedish Skagerrak. Instead, the protected area in the Öresund and the Belt Sea are expected today to provide most larvae recruiting in Kattegat. Also, the inflow of larvae from the North Sea to Skagerrak and Kattegat can be significant although highly variable between years, with a positive correlation to the North-Atlantic Oscillation index ( NAO). The rebuilding of healthy spawning areas in the Kattegat may be key for restoring local cod stocks in both Kattegat and along the Skagerrak coast. This poses a management challenge if cod with local 'Kattegat' adaptations, e.g., in terms of egg density and migration patterns, are lost or reduced to non-resilient densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed common-garden experiments to test for genetic variation in responses of larval life-history traits to temperature between two populations of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L., 1758) that naturally experience contrasting thermal environments during early life due to spatial and temporal differences in spawning. Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod larvae experienced faster growth in warmer water and low, uniform survival across all experimental temperatures (3, 7, 11 °C), consistent with previous studies on this spring-spawning population. In contrast, larvae from fall-spawning Southwestern Scotian Shelf cod collected near Sambro, Nova Scotia, lacked plasticity for growth but experienced much lower survival at higher temperatures. Phenotypes that are positively associated with fitness were observed at temperatures closest to those experienced in the wild, consistent with the hypothesis that these populations are adapted to local thermal regimes. The lack of growth plasticity observed in Sambro cod might be due to costly maintenance of plasticity in stable environments or energy savings at cold temperatures. However, additional experiments need to be conducted on Sambro cod and other fall-spawning marine fishes to determine to what extent responses to projected changes in climate will differ among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerochronological analysis of Mya arenaria shells from archeological sites can provide valuable information on the lifestyles of the sites' inhabitants. Inhabited from ca. 1860 to 1912, Malaga Island, Maine, was the home of a marginalized, mixed-race community of which only scant historical records remain. Our study analyzes M. arenaria shells from three horizons of shell middens at two house sites, utilizing incremental growth assessment, age, and growth rate to determine harvest behavior of the Malaga Island community. We examined modern clams from a nearby site to estimate the pattern of growth line deposition in M. arenaria so we could accurately determine the season of harvest from midden clams. Our results indicate that, throughout Malaga's historic inhabitation, the islanders consistently harvested between September and March, suggesting that they were selling M. arenaria to cod fisheries as bait, though it is also possible that they relied on clams for food. Large M. arenaria from the uppermost horizons of the middens averaged 2.5 to 4.8 years older than individuals from lower horizons. In one midden, average clam growth was significantly slower from the uppermost horizon compared to lower horizons, indicating that the islanders probably changed harvesting sites near the end of the island's occupation. Our sclerochronological results provide information necessary to complete an important chapter of Maine history. They also indicate that changes in harvest location should be considered an explanation for changes in the size, age, and growth of midden mollusks through time. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the post-war political landscape in Norway, it has been a rooted consensus to maintain the coastal fleet as the largest and most important segment of the Norwegian fishing fleet. The simple and open technology, and low entrance costs in the coastal fisheries have secured employment in fisheries dependent districts, especially in Northern Norway. In order to protect the coastal fleet from the deep-sea fleet, the regime fixed the resource allocation and secured the coastal vessels with the largest share of the national TAC for cod. However, despite the strong institutionalization of the coastal fleet, the regime has not managed to avoid a rapid growth of deep-sea vessels and reallocation of quotas within the coastal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative importance of exploitation rate and environmental variability in generating fluctuations of harvested populations is a key issue in academic ecology as well as population management. We studied how the eastern Baltic cod ( Gadus morhua) is affected by fishing and environmental variation by using a newly developed single species state-space model. Survey data and auxiliary environmental data were used to estimate the model parameters. The model was then used to predict future development of the eastern Baltic cod under different fishing mortalities and abiotic conditions. Abiotic condition was represented by an index: reproductive volume which is the volume of water suitable (in terms of salinity and oxygen content) for the successful development of the early life stages of Baltic cod. The model included direct density dependence, fishing, and a lagged effect of reproductive volume. Our analysis showed that fishing rate is approximately three times more important than reproductive volume in explaining the population dynamics. Furthermore, our model suggests either under- or over-compensatory dynamics depending on the reproductive volume and long term catch levels. It follows that fishing can either reduce or increase temporal oscillations of the cod stock depending on whether the dynamics is over- or undercompensatory, respectively. The sustainable level of fishing rate is however dependent on reproductive volume. Our model predicts a dual role of fishing rate, stabilizing when reproductive volume is high and destabilizing when it is low. Exploitation rate may therefore increase or decrease the risk of the population of cod dropping below a given biomass reference point depending on the environmental conditions, which has practical implications for fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey regarding groundfish supplies in the Gulf of Maine, and it mentions the efforts to establish a transnational solution to a codfish-related crisis in the Gulf of Maine region as of 2015. U.S.-Canadian relations are addressed in connection with fishing grounds and territorial regions such as the Gulf of Maine. A cod fishery rehabilitation proposal is assessed, along with fishing restrictions.

Several studies have documented fish populations changing in response to long-term warming. Over the past decade, sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine increased faster than 99% of the global ocean. The warming, which was related to a northward shift in the Gulf Stream and to changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, led to reduced recruitment and increased mortality in the region's Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stock. Failure to recognize the impact of warming on cod contributed to overfishing. Recovery of this fishery depends on sound management, but the size of the stock depends on future temperature conditions. The experience in the Gulf of Maine highlights the need to incorporate environmental factors into resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]