Cod Research

The research conducted by DMF and our partners has significantly advanced the understanding of cod population dynamics. From creating spawning closures to re-defining stock boundaries to accounting for discard mortality, our findings are already being applied at multiple levels to improve fishery management and stock assessments. We are hopeful that these changes will help alter the trajectory of the cod stock and ultimately improve the conditions for our struggling fishery. However, many important questions remain to be answered and we will continue to use our expertise to identify and fill these critical knowledge gaps.

Cod Research in Massachusetts StoryMap

By the time the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, the most prominent feature along the coast had already been known as Cape Cod for a generation. Cod fishing was North America’s first industry and is still a central part of our heritage. Once an emblem of pride and prosperity, the cod fishery of today is drastically different, challenged by declining populations, warming ocean temperatures, and lost spawning grounds. No one group has all the answers for fixing these issues, but the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries contributes extensive research to help improve stock assessments and fishery management.

A new online StoryMap was recently created to showcase the various cod-focused research projects that have been completed by MADMF over the past decade. The StoryMap offers an immersive multimedia experience that includes photos, videos and sounds collected from both above and below the water’s surface. Follow along as we use electronic tracking, underwater drones, sidescan sonar, machine learning, and citizen science to reveal the fascinating lives of Atlantic cod. 

Additional Resources

Cod Research StoryMap

Date published:	November 28, 2022