Size-dependent mortality of juvenile Atlantic cod, estimated from recaptures of released reared cod and tagged wild cod

The recapture rate and survival of reared cod Gadus morhua L. (15-45 cm) released in fjords and open coastal areas of Norway increased with increasing size at release, while release area and season also had a significant influence on the results. High mortality soon after release reduced the number of released fish by more than two-thirds within 6 months, and reduced the potential commercial yield to a low level. In most cases the recapture yield was lower than the released biomass and the net yield increased little or not at all with increasing size at release. In western Norway high fishing mortality of young fish reduced the numbers of surviving fish rapidly and the growth overfishing reduced the potential yield still further. Natural mortality decreased with increasing size at release, and became low when the fish approached their size refuge, i.e. when they could not be eaten by their usual predators. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.