Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Atlantic Cod,'Gadus morhua', Life History211 and Habitat Characteristics

摘要

The Atlantic cod is distributed in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Greenland to211u001eCape Hatteras, North Carolina. Within the overall distribution, densities are 211u001ehighest off Newfoundland, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the Scotian Shelf, 211u001ewhile in U.S. waters, densities are highest on Georges Bank and the western Gulf 211u001eof Maine. Atlantic cod are managed as two stocks in American waters: (1) Gulf of 211u001eMaine and (2) Georges Bank and southward (Mayo 1995). Little Interchange occurs 211u001ebetween the two. It occurs from nearshore areas to depths exceeding 400 m 211u001e(rarely). The present document examines dietary requirements and expands somewhat 211u001eon spawning patterns, distributions and habitat characteristics of four life 211u001ehistory stages (eggs, larvae, juveniles, adults).