Article
Ecology
Timothy P. O'Donnell, Timothy J. Sullivan
Summary: The study found that Atlantic cod in the western Gulf of Maine are managed as a single stock, but actually consist of two spawning groups (spring and winter) with significant genetic differentiation. By selecting specific SNP panels, researchers can effectively differentiate between different spawning groups and genders.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ning Chen, Ming Sun, Chongliang Zhang, Yiping Ren, Yong Chen
Summary: Climate change impacts fish populations and their dynamics, and it is crucial to consider non-stationary vital rates in fishery stock assessment and management. This study focused on the effects of non-stationary natural mortality on the stock assessment of Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine. The results showed that adopting non-stationary mortality rates improved the accuracy of stock assessment compared to the commonly used stationary assumption.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robyn M. Linner, Yong Chen
Summary: This study examines the impact of ignoring biological stock structure in habitat modeling using juvenile Atlantic cod as an example. The results show that neglecting to consider stock structure can lead to inaccurate detection of spatially explicit habitat relationships, hindering the recovery of collapsed stocks such as Atlantic cod.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Helle Torp Christensen, Frank Riget, Anja Retzel, Erik Haar Nielsen, Einar Eg Nielsen, Rasmus Berg Hedeholm
Summary: Mixed-stock fisheries pose challenges for management, and this study demonstrates the practical application of high-resolution genetic stock monitoring in managing mixed Atlantic cod stocks in western Greenland.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Geir Sogn-Grundvag, Oystein Hermansen
Summary: In the coastal fishery for Atlantic cod in Norway, quality-based pricing is largely absent, resulting in a high percentage of downgraded fish. However, there are some encouraging exceptions where efforts to enhance fish quality are rewarded with higher prices, providing guidance for fishers and buyers. These exceptions also pose important dilemmas for policymakers.
Review
Oceanography
P. H. Wiebe, M. F. Baumgartner, N. J. Copley, G. L. Lawson, C. Davis, R. Ji, C. H. Greene
Summary: The variability of zooplankton populations is influenced by external and internal forcing. External forcing, such as large-scale changes in circulation, and internal forcing, including in situ growth, competition, and predation, control the variability. This study analyzed observational data to assess these forcings in the Gulf of Maine. The results showed that the abundance of diapausing C. finmarchicus was lower in 1998 compared to 1997 and 1999, despite comparable overall zooplankton biomass levels. The study also found that potential invertebrate predators had a higher biomass in 1998, potentially accounting for the missing C. finmarchicus cohort. This supports the hypothesis that local predation can control the diapausing stock of C. finmarchicus.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Oceanography
David W. Townsend, Neal R. Pettigrew, Maura A. Thomas, Stephen Moore
Summary: We analyzed a 19-year time series of mooring data and in situ nitrate data collected in the Jordan Basin in the Gulf of Maine. The analyses confirmed previous findings that the Gulf of Maine has been warming due to air-sea heat fluxes. The warming is primarily attributed to changes in advective heat fluxes from neighboring shelf and slope regions, leading to a new baseline of warmer temperatures and higher salinities in the Gulf.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Mackenzie D. Mazur, Kisei R. Tanaka, Burton Shank, Jui-Han Chang, Cameron T. Hodgdon, Kathleen M. Reardon, Kevin D. Friedland, Yong Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of spatial heterogeneity and environmental factors on recruitment dynamics using American lobster in the Gulf of Maine as a case study. The results showed that temperature significantly impacted recruitment, and the effects of temperature on productivity differed between the eastern and western regions of the Gulf of Maine.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David M. Chosid, Michael Pol
Summary: The use of off-bottom trawls can reduce bycatch and protect overexploited stocks while increasing fishing yield, but the impact on the benthic environment needs to be addressed.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Geir Sogn-Grundvag, Dengjun Zhang, Edgar Henriksen, Sjurdur Joensen, Bjorn-Inge Bendiksen, Oystein Hermansen
Summary: This study reveals substantial waste in fish quality for Atlantic cod landed by the coastal fleet in Norway, highlighting the importance of markets in sustainable utilization of marine resources. The econometric results suggest that the quality index has a modest effect on prices, with fishing methods playing a more significant role in price formation, due to a poorly performing ex-vessel market distorted by asymmetric information and bargaining power of fishers.
Article
Fisheries
Alexa M. Dayton, Kanae Tokunaga
Summary: Maine's coastal communities heavily rely on the American lobster fishery, but it is now threatened by ocean warming. The future sustainability of the stock is uncertain, and the economic performance of the fishing fleet is at risk. This research analyzes the economic heterogeneity within Maine's fishing fleet and explores how different business models are associated with fleet performance. The findings suggest that technical upgrades can improve economic performance, but societal benefits and employment levels have also shaped the lobster production environment. This study provides a crucial baseline for future policy reforms in the US lobster fishery.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
William M. Balch, David T. Drapeau, Bruce C. Bowler, Nicholas R. Record, Nicholas R. Bates, Sunny Pinkham, Rebecca Garley, Catherine Mitchell
Summary: The Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series (GNATS) is a long-term observation project that has been running since 1998. It aims to validate ocean color satellite data and study the changes in the coastal ecosystem. The study found significant increases in water temperature, salinity, and density in the region over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, phytoplankton standing stock and primary production showed significant decreases. There were also changes in nutrient concentrations and dissolved organic carbon, suggesting increasing nitrogen limitation. The study highlights the importance of understanding the impact of these changes on the Gulf of Maine ecosystem.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Nathaniel Willse, Erin Summers, Yong Chen
Summary: This study examines the spatial variation in vertical line strength requirements in the Maine American lobster trap fishery. The findings suggest that inshore areas can safely use vertical lines within the recommended breaking strength to avoid entanglement of North Atlantic right whales, while the offshore lobster fishery requires additional measures to reduce the risk of entanglement and mortality.
MARINE AND COASTAL FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Cruz-Colin Maria Esther, Cisneros-Mata Miguel Angel, Montano-Moctezuma Gabriela, Espejel Ileana, Cisneros-Montemayor Andres Miguel, Malpica-Cruz Luis
Summary: The study highlights the relationships between participants and stakeholders in the cannonball jellyfish fishery, advocating for consideration of multiple dimensions such as social equity, economic benefits, and environmental responsibility for sustainable fisheries development.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Gregory Neils Puncher, Yanjun Wang, Ryan Martin, Gregory DeCelles, Steven X. Cadrin, Douglas Zemeckis, Sherrylynn Rowe, Nathalie M. Leblanc, Genevieve J. Parent, Scott A. Pavey
Summary: This study analyzed the population structure of Atlantic Cod in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean using DNA sequencing technology, finding that chromosomal inversions from different linkage groups contribute significantly to the variance in the dataset. Samples from different regions showed genetic distinctions, suggesting that local spawning groups may still be active. The results indicate ongoing transborder gene flow and will help guide management strategies for rebuilding depleted populations in the USA and Canada.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2021)