New data on the longevity of coastal cod Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758 in the White Sea

Abstract

Summary The cod, Gadus morhua, is a common and abundant demersal fish in the White Sea coastal zone. The published data on the maximum age of White Sea cod still requires additional documentation, because some authors have noted difficulties in age determination by otoliths of large specimens. To obtain accurate data on the longevity of this species in the White Sea, an image analysis of thin‐sections of otoliths was made for age estimation. Research surveys in the Chupa Inlet and adjacent waters of the Kandalaksha Bay were conducted in June to August from 2007 to 2013. The five largest specimens of a total of 3564 captured fish were selected for age determination. Age of these largest individuals ranged between 7 and 12 years, total length and weight varied from 60.2 to 77.0 cm and from 2.4 to 6.1 kg, respectively. According to the data, maximal White Sea cod longevity is greater than in previously published data, and demonstrates similar longevity to conspecifics from the Baltic and North seas, whereas its life cycle is much shorter than cod from the Northeast Arctic, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador stocks.

Genomic analysis reveals neutral and adaptive patterns that challenge the current management regime for East Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L

“…Cod from the White Sea are unique as they are the only coastal cod population inhabiting the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic. Although its life history is poorly understood, recent studies have suggested it to be resident in the White Sea and spawn under the ice at water temperatures as cold as −1.8°C (Makhotin, 2016; Yershov, Marschal, Ereskovsky, & Vishnyakov, 2016). Earlier, White Sea cod has been ascribed to a subspecies due to its divergent biology ( Gadus morhua marisalbi: Derjugin 1920), and genetic analyses using mtDNA polymorphisms have confirmed its recent divergence from Gadus morhua (Zelenina, Makeenko, Volkov, & Mugue, 2016).…”

“…LG12 has previously been found to differentiate between North Sea and coastal cod in the southern Norway (Sodeland et al, 2016). (Makhotin, 2016;Yershov, Marschal, Ereskovsky, & Vishnyakov, 2016). Earlier, White Sea cod has been ascribed to a subspecies due to its divergent biology (Gadus morhua marisalbi:…”

Age Determination and Lifespan of Marine Animal Species

“…Otoliths are present in various vertebrate taxa, but have been mainly studied in teleosts (e.g. [21,27,28]). Otoliths are calcified structures in the inner ears of teleosts and play a role in equilibration.…”