Building a Shared Vision of Atlantic Cod Population Structure and New England Fisheries

Thursday, June 6, 2019
University of New Hampshire

This symposium will present the preliminary findings of a one-year interdisciplinary review of Atlantic cod stock structure and provide an opportunity for participants to provide feedback on how these new findings relate to their on-the-water experience and observations. The symposium results will contribute information to the final report by the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group (ACSSWG), which is focused on re-evaluating cod stock structure in US waters.

Objectives:

•        Present the preliminary conclusions about cod stock structure from the perspective of six disciplines: 1) spawning and early life, 2) genetic markers, 3) basic life history [abundance, growth, maturity], 4) external or internal ‘natural’ markers, shape, or coloration, 5) applied markers, both conventional and technology tags, and 6) fisherman’s ecological knowledge

•        Capture insight and feedback from fishermen on what is being observed on the water to incorporate into the developing model by researchers

•        Compare status quo and alternatives regarding biologically-supported stock structure of cod in US waters to further identify areas of common ground in the understanding of cod population structure and areas of remaining uncertainty

•        Outline further steps forward for the working group and its products

8:30 AM         Registration (coffee & light breakfast available) 

9:00 AM         Welcome and Opening Remarks

·         Erik Chapman, New Hampshire Sea Grant

·         Laura Taylor Singer, Facilitator

9:10 AM         Introduction to the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group

·         Richard McBride, Northeast Fisheries Science Center (ACSSWG, co-chair)

9:20 AM         ‘Briefs’ and Discussion: What Our Research is Showing Us

·        Spawning and Early Life History (Micah Dean, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries)

·        Genetic Markers (Adrienne Kovach, University of New Hampshire)

·        Life History (Richard McBride, Northeast Fisheries Science Center)

10:20 AM      BREAK

10:40 AM      ‘Briefs’ and Discussion: What Our Research is Showing Us (Continued)

·         Natural Markers (Lisa Kerr, Gulf of Maine Research Institute)

·         Applied Markers – (Steve Cadrin, School for Marine Science & Technology)

·        Fishermen’s Ecological knowledge (Greg DeCelles, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries)

11:40 AM      Summary Discussion: Synthesizing Findings of Individual Disciplines

12:00 PM      LUNCH (Provided)

1:00 PM         Reflections on Morning Discussion

1:20 PM         Preliminary Ideas and Discussion: What We Think This Information is Telling Us about Alternative Models of Atlantic Cod Population Structure

·         Richard McBride, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

2:40 PM         Symposium Wrap-up and Next Steps

·         Richard McBride, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

3:00 PM         Adjoun