April 27, 2015 — While fishery scientists and and fishermen often disagree , NOAA reports they have become allies in an effort to help rebuild the cod stock in the Gulf of Maine.
When cod spawn, they pile up into dense formations. These concentrations were favorite targets of fishermen. Now that the stock is in such poor shape, many spawning areas are closed to fishing.
The goal of this collaboration is to make the closures more precise and fishermen are offering their years of experience to make that happen.
Male cod make noise when they’re spawning, a kind of grunting sound. They make it by contracting their swim bladders and it’s not known whether it’s made to attract females or scare off rivals. Whatever the reason, scientists hope that they can find the formations of spawning cod by listening for them.
Read the full story from the Asbury Park Press