Proposal for a Habitat Area of Particular Concern for Juvenile Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in the Nearshore Waters of the Gulf of Maine.
Prepared by: EFH Technical Team (Excerpted from the 1999 Habitat Annual Review Report)

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The situation for Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine is now much more problematic. Despite implementation of management measures in 1994 to reduce fishing mortality, commercial catch and landings have continued to decline. Spawning stock biomass is at a record low level, the fully recruited fishing mortality rate remains high, and recruitment and survival of pre-recruit fish are at record lows -- all indications that the stock is collapsing (NEFSC 1997).

Both the NEFSC trawl survey, covering the entire Gulf of Maine, and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries trawl survey, operating in Massachusetts territorial waters, have found that recent year classes are the poorest in the survey time series (NEFMC's MSMC 1998). Moreover, NEFSC survey catches for the period 1979-1983, compared to 1994-1998, illustrate a contraction in distribution of age-3 and older cod to the historic center of abundance off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. A further decline in biomass in 1999 has been projected even with a drastic reduction in fishing mortality.

If the Gulf of Maine cod stock is to be rebuilt to B/msy the Habitat Committee may want to consider recommending an HAPC to provide more protection for critical habitat. Available data and a review of recent scientific literature suggests that consideration be given to designating a juvenile Atlantic cod HAPC for the perimeter of the Gulf of Maine from mean low water (MLW) to a depth of 9 m below MLW (30').

The benthic community within this very narrow coastal zone has been found to be critical for Atlantic cod during a short period following metamorphosis from the larval stage and prior to settlement to demersal habitat. It serves as a source of cod replenishment for seaward fishing areas because juveniles move into deeper offshore water as they mature. Other valuable groundfish (e.g., winter flounder and white hake) as well as American lobster would also be afforded the same protection.

Recent Research
During the late 1980's, Atlantic cod inhabiting the waters off southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland (viz. northern cod stock) underwent a dramatic decline in biomass, with the result that the famous Grand Bank fishery collapsed in 1992. This lead to a fishing moratorium as well as an economic and ecological disaster (Hutchings 1996; Myers, et al. 1996). It also triggered unprecedented research at federal fisheries laboratories and universities in eastern Canada under the auspices of the Government of Canada's Northern Cod Science Program and the government / industry-funded Ocean Production Enhancement Network program. In total, there were 58 study initiatives and projects covering a broad suite of research costing about $48 million from 1990-95 (Campbell 1997).

The following description of research results from Canada and other countries deals with life history and behavioral ecology of newly settled juvenile cod, particularly post-settlement events relating to habitat that may ultimately affect recruitment strength. Studies have focused on laboratory observation experiments as well as field capture efforts utilizing active sampling equipment, SCUBA and submersible vehicles for in situ observations, and seabed classification techniques for acoustically classifying juvenile habitat. Nearly three dozen scientific papers relating to this subject have been published in recent years. The information is directly applicable to coastal nursery areas in the Gulf of Maine, the inference being that knowledge gained from such studies should be used for more risk-adverse habitat management.

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