Analysis of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Cod Population

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Abstract
The Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock supports a fishery with recent annual landings around 65,000 metric tons. Traditionally, fish have been taken by baited hooks, but beginning in 1947 trawl fishing has gradually become the major fishing method. Introduction of trawling with concurrent increase in landings from an average of 30,000 metric tons prior to 1947 to 65,000 metric tons since then appears to have greatly changed the composition of the stock. The changes were characterized by the lowering of the average size of fish and of the abundance in weight of the commercially fished sizes, and the increasing of the abundance of the pre-commercial sizes. Available statistics permit estimation of growth, recruitment, and productivity parameters for the stock. Analysis suggests an inverse relationship between stock density and both growth and recruitment, the overall effect being an increased productivity. If the observed population changes are responses to increased fishing, then per-recruit models are not appropriate to predict the effects of any past or future regulations. Models providing for differential growth efficiencies, and competition and food-related recruitment relationship are required.

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