Resident fish production, ecosystem carrying capacity and population dynamics of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in Gilbert Bay, Labrador: A marine protected area

The Marine Protected Area in Gilbert Bay, Labrador was created mainly to protect its resident Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) population, which is genetically distinguishable from other northern Atlantic cod populations. In order to effectively manage this population in the future, basic information regarding production, ecosystem carrying capacity, and population dynamics is needed. In this research, a bottom-up food chain dynamics approach was used to calculate the resident fish production in Gilbert Bay (340 tons per year) and the ecosystem carrying capacity for Atlantic cod (286 tons) based on a primary production rate of 190 g C m-2 y-1. The availability of suitable habitat for juvenile cod as well as food availability may limit the production of Atlantic cod (109 tons per year). The age-structured Leslie matrix population model was used to simulate the rebuilding of the Atlantic cod population in Gilbert Bay. The elasticity analysis suggests that protecting juveniles and their habitat is most important to the population growth.; Key words: Gilbert Bay, Marine Protected Area, Atlantic cod, fish production, ecosystem carrying capacity, Leslie matrix, population projection...