Larval and small juvenile cod Gadus morhua concentrated in the highly productive areas of a shelf break front

Abstract

The early life of cod was studied during a survey programme covering the NE North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat in May 1992. The identified nursery areas of larvae/juveniles are described, and the connection between the distribution of cod and hydrographical (frontal) characteristics of the areas is analysed. The hydrographical measurements indicated a shelf break front positioned along the shelf slope in the southern part of the investigation area, and within the zone of the front enhanced primary production and abundance of both phyto- and zooplankton were observed. The distribution of larval and juvenile cod was also related to the hydrography, the abundance of cod peaked within the restricted zone and the aggregations extended as a continuous band along the front. -from Authors