Publication Abstract

Multi-torsking: simultaneous measurements of cod behaviour show differences between North Sea and Irish Sea stocks

By D. Righton & J. Metcalfe

Fish behaviour can vary considerably in response to environmental and biological conditions. We used electronic Data Storage Tags (DSTs) to investigate the behaviour of cod in different environments; 74 North Sea cod and 20 Irish Sea cod were tagged and released in late-March 1999. So far, 32 tags (>2000 days of data) have been returned from the North Sea and four (>700 days) from the Irish Sea. The maximum recorded depth of a North Sea cod was 84 m, while Irish Sea cod utilised a depth range of 154 m. Active depth changes were of greater magnitude and rate in Irish Sea cod than North Sea cod.

Reference:

D. Righton & J. Metcalfe, 2002. Multi-torsking: simultaneous measurements of cod behaviour show differences between North Sea and Irish Sea stocks. Hydrobiologia 483: 193-200