Cod Tagging in Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary

Project Manager: David Martins
dmartins@umassd.edu• 508.910.6392

Larger images (in new window): Tagged Cod • Recaptures

SUMMARY: 9,579 cod were tagged within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary between August 2000 and December 2003. • Overall, tagged fish length averaged 53.3 cm. • Of fish tagged in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 279 have been recaptured (265 with known coordinates) • Length of recaptured fish averaged 56.8 cm and ranged from 25 cm to 97 cm. • The mean number of days at large was 270 (median 222) and ranged from 0 to 988. • The mean distance traveled was 17.1 nm (median 11.3 nm) and ranged from 0 to 137 nm. • 31 fish (12%) moved SE to the Great S. Channel and Georges Bank The fish that traveled the farthest (137nm) was recaptured on SE Georges Bank. • 43 fish (16%) moved N or E to the Gulf of Maine The fish with the most days at large (988 d) was recaptured in the Gulf of Maine 6.7 nm N of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. • 27 fish (10%) moved W to Massachusetts Bay • 14 fish (5%) moved S to Cape Cod Bay • 150 fish (57%) were recaptured in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (36 within 1 d of tagging by same vessel) with movements of up to 27.6nm within the Sanctuary and days at large up to 921 d (mean 221 d). • 8 out of 866 (1%) fish tagged inside the Western Gulf of Maine closed area portion of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have been recaptured (6 of the 8 [75%] were recaptured within the closed area). • 257 out of 8,713 (3%) tagged outside of the Western Gulf of Maine closed area portion of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have been recaptured (22 of the 257 [9%]) were recaptured within the closed area).