The Northeast Arctic cod stock's consumption of commercially exploited prey species in 1984- 1986
1989
In order to evaluate the growing influence of Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua)on some commercially exploited prey species, the annual consumption of thesespecies by the cod stock has been estimated for 1984-1986. The estimates are basedon stomach content weights and composition data from more than 11 000 cod sampledthroughout the area of distribution at different times of the year, temperaturecorrelateddigestion times from the North Sea, the number of cod in each age groupduring the years in question, and the geographical distribution of each group.The main prey species during the period was capelin (Mallotus villosus), and in1985 the consumption approached two million tonnes, while in 1986 it was less thanhalf of this. The next most important prey was deep-sea shrimp (Pandalus borealis),the consumption of which dropped from about 0.6 million tonnes in 1984 to below 0.3million tonnes in 1986. Measured in numbers consumed, there was also a considerableconsumption of young redfish (Sebastes spp.) and herring (Clupea harengus),and in the last years also of young cod and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus).The results show that the growing cod stock has had a great impact on some of thecommercially exploited prey species in 1984-1986, and some year classes may havebeen seriously reduced by this predation.
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