Abstract
Summary Objective: Determine the stages in the early life history during which cod and haddock suffer differential mortality using an existing set of data on eggs and larvae of demersal fish in the Irish Sea, together with contemporaneous data on zooplankton prey of the larvae and coupled bio-physical models. Generate and test different possible hypotheses (such as spatial and temporal match-mismatch with suitable prey, different responses to physical environmental drivers, or direct interactions between species) that can be used to explain the difference in productivity of Irish Sea cod and haddock stocks observed over recent years. Key Customer Purpose: To investigate whether changes in fish recruitment associated with mortality at early stages plays an important role in controlling the recovery potential of cod and haddock, allowing for the development of effective management strategies for the Irish Sea demersal fisheries.
United Kingdom