Scientists and fishermen join forces to study Atlantic cod

Innovative analysis effort finds encouraging indicators for juvenile Atlantic cod populations

After ten days at sea, researchers from the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) have returned from the Spring 2026 Gulf of Maine video trawl survey with encouraging early indicators for one among New England’s most iconic fish species: Atlantic cod. 

Conducted in partnership with industrial fishermen and supported by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the survey makes use of a novel open cod finish video methodology developed by SMAST researchers to observe fish populations with minimal impression. The collaborative challenge displays the rising function of industry-science partnerships in fisheries analysis whereas producing information that may assist enhance understanding and administration of Gulf of Maine fish shares. 

The crew departed May 6 and returned May 15 aboard the F/V Justice, owned by New Bedford industrial fisherman Danny Eilertsen. The vessel crew included Captain Robert Kohl, First Mate Tim Barrett, and Andrew Earle, who served as prepare dinner and deckhand. SMAST’s scientific crew included Chief Scientist Dr. Nicholas Calabrese, PhD scholar Stephanie Merhoff, and MS scholar Helena Norton. On the primary day of the survey, a movie crew joined the expedition to accumulate footage for a documentary movie concerning the historic and ongoing significance of the fishing and seafood {industry} in Boston and Massachusetts. This brief movie will probably be a centerpiece for the Boston Fisheries Museum’s upcoming exhibit throughout Sail Boston. 

An modern method to counting fish 

Developed by SMAST researchers and fishing {industry} collaborators, the open video trawl survey methodology represents a novel method to fisheries science. Unlike conventional trawl surveys, the system makes use of a modified open cod-end that enables fish to go by way of the online unhurt whereas underwater cameras report marine life transferring by way of the gear. The method allows researchers to observe fish populations with minimal impression whereas amassing helpful video information for inventory assessments. 

This most up-to-date expedition produced roughly 65 hours of underwater video footage that researchers will analyze to establish and depend fish species. 

Tracking an iconic species 

Atlantic cod stay probably the most traditionally and culturally vital fisheries species in Massachusetts and all through New England. Once foundational to the area’s coastal financial system and identification, Gulf of Maine cod populations have skilled vital declines in latest a long time, making correct inventory assessments more and more necessary for each ecosystem administration and fishing communities. 

Preliminary observations from the survey indicated greater numbers of juvenile Atlantic cod than have been seen in recent times, with fish broadly distributed all through the survey space. Researchers additionally noticed quite a lot of different species, together with sand lance, Atlantic herring, longhorn sculpin, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, Acadian redfish, a number of Atlantic halibut, and an Atlantic sturgeon. 

The survey is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by way of the Massachusetts Fisheries Institute and the Blue Economy initiative supported by New Bedford Representative Tony Cabral.  

 SMAST researchers hope these findings will present helpful new info and higher readability concerning the standing of Gulf of Maine groundfish sources.