The distribution of the Atlantic cod extends from eastern North America across the north Atlantic to western Europe. Both inshore and offshore stocks are known. Cod gather in large breeding congregations in spring. These areas are known to fisherman and some have been fished for centuries [1].
Cod are associated with relatively shallow marine habitats along the continental shelf including a series of “banks” that occur from Newfoundland to south eastern New England. Examples include Georges Bank off New England, the East Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia, and the Grand Banks off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador [2].
Atlantic Cod Range Map
On these banks, nutrients are frequently stirred up by cross currents and storms resulting in phytoplankton blooms that support high concentrations of zooplankton. The zooplankton are fed upon by northern shrimp, which are an important food source for cod. Changes in these complex marine ecosystems due to over fishing can cause “fishing down the marine food web” [3].
References
- Mayo, R. and O’Brien. (2006) Distribution Biology and Management. NEFSC. [Online].
- Stevenson, D. Chiarella, L. Stephan, D. Reid, R. Wilhelm, K. McCarthy, J. and Pentony, M. (2004) Characterization of the Fishing Practices and Marine Benthic Ecosystems of the Northeast U.S. Shelf, and an Evaluation of the Potential Effects of Fishing on Essential Fish Habitat. [Online].
- The Encyclopaedia of Earth (2010) Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Northeast Atlantic (Barents and Norwegian Seas). [Online].