Cod is the major predator on capelin; although other fish species, seabirds and marine mammals are also important predators. In the last 6–7 years, cod stock levels have been extremely high in the Barents Sea. Estimated biomass of capelin consumed by cod in recent years has been close to the biomass of the entire capelin stock (Figure 4.2.3). Abundance levels of predators other than cod are also high and, to our knowledge, stable.
Feeding
Figures 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 show the consumption and diet composition of cod.
Figure 4.2.1 Cod consumption 1984–2018. Consumption by mature cod outside the Barents Sea (3 months during first half of year) not included. Norwegian calculations, preliminary figures, final numbers to be found in AFWG 2019.
Figure 4.2.2. Cod diet composition in the Barents Sea in 1984–2018, by weight.
Figure 4.2.3 Size of the capelin stock and estimated consumption of capelin by cod.
Estimated consumption of capelin by cod during first and second parts of the year has indicated different temporal patterns. Consumption during the 1st and 2nd quarters has been high during earlier periods and includes consumption during the spawning period, and during spring and early summer prior to seasonal capelin feeding migrations. During the last decade, however, a major difference has been the pronounced increase to a much higher level of consumption in the 3rd and 4th quarters (Figure 4.2.3). This reflects the northward movement of cod stock, and a larger spatial overlap between cod and capelin under the recent warm conditions.
Figure 4.2.4 Acoustic estimates of polar cod compared to consumption of polar cod by cod and % of polar cod in cod diet, 1986-2017.Figure 4.2.4 shows that there is a reasonable correspondence between the proportion of polar cod in the cod diet and acoustic estimates of polar cod.
Figure 4.2.5. Cod diet composition during the ecosystem survey in August–September 2011–2018. Red dots indicate capelin, and blue dots polar cod.
During the first capelin collapse (1985–1989) the importance of capelin in cod diet decreased from 53% in 1985 to 20–22% (maximum) for the remainder of the collapse period. During that period, an increase of other prey was observed; in particular, hyperiids which constituted 7–23% of the capelin diet and redfish which constituted 3–18%.
During the second capelin collapse (1993–1997), the proportion (by weight) of capelin in the cod diet was high during the first 2 years (47% and 30%), followed by a decreased to 6–16%. During this period, cannibalism in cod increased sharply from 4–11% to 18–26% of the diet. In addition, more intensive consumption of hyperiids was observed (1–12%), but the proportion of hyperiids consumed was still much lower than during the first collapse.
During the third capelin collapse (2003–2006), consumption of capelin by cod was rather high (10–26%). Several alternative prey groups were present in the cod diet in similar quantities: juvenile haddock (6–11%) and cod (5–10%); herring (3–11%); blue whiting (1–5%); and hyperiids (1–12%). Consumption of capelin by cod during the most recent years has remained somewhat stable (17–31%), but has been much lower than during earlier periods of high capelin abundance (average 36–51%). In recent years, a relatively diverse cod diet has been recorded: with stable high consumption of juvenile cod and haddock (6–11 and 5–11%, respectively); other fish species (11–15%); and other food types (21–33%) (mainly ctenophores and crabs).
Investigations of cod diet in the area north of 76°N showed different types of feeding intensity in three different local areas (Dolgov and Benzik, 2014). Cod feeding intensity was low (149–1690/000) in areas near western and southern Spitsbergen — where cod feed on non-commercial fish. Other local areas were characterized by high feeding intensity (MFI 214-251-169 0/000) with capelin as dominant; non-target species (snailfish and sculpins), polar cod, and hyperiids were also consumed. These two are traditional areas of cod distribution during summer. The third area (Franz Josef Land, northern Novaya Zemlya, and adjacent areas) has become available habitat for cod only since 2008; in this area, cod (MFI 284-340 0/000) feed intensively on polar cod and capelin. Northward expansion of cod distribution, and their movement into northeastern Barents Sea results in better feeding conditions for cod under their high stock biomass and decreasing of main prey (capelin and polar cod).
In addition, some new prey items appeared in the cod diet. The non-indigenous snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) has become a rather important prey items for cod, especially in eastern Barents Sea alongside Novaya Zemlya (Dolgov and Benzik, 2016). The percentage (by weight) of snow crab in the cod diet sharply increased from 2014 onwards (Figure 4.2.6). In contrast, two other non-indigenous crab species (red king crab and crab Geryon sp.) have not become more important in the cod diet. The difference is probably related to higher overlap between cod and snow crab, and more appropriate body shape and size of snow crab than the other crab species as prey for cod.
Figure 4.2.6. Importance of snow crab, red king crab and crab Geryon sp. in cod diet (% weight of total consumption) in 1984–2018.Growth and maturation
Consumption and growth for young cod has been relatively stable in recent years (Figure 4.2.7); there has been a slight decrease for older cod (Figure 4.2.8). Maturity-at-age for cod decreased considerably in 2015-2016, but did in 2019 increase to the level seen in the early 2000s recent years, particularly for ages 6-9. The changes in maturity ogives were considerably larger than indicated by recent changes in weight-at-age estimates (Figures 4.2.9 and 4.2.10).
Biomass of the main prey species, relative to the cod stock size, has decreased somewhat in recent years (Figure 4.2.11). However, no consequences of the 2015-2016 ‘mini-collapse’ of the Barents Sea capelin stock on cod growth and condition have been observed. This may be related to ongoing expansion of cod stock to the northern Barents Sea, making previously untapped food resources now available for cod consumption.
Figure 4.2.7 Cod growth and consumption at age 3 (ICES 2019).
Figure 4.2.8 Cod growth and consumption at age 6 (ICES 2019).
Figure 4.2.9 Maturity-at-age for cod ages 6-9 (ICES 2019).
Figure 4.2.10 Cod maturity and weight at age 7 (ICES 2019).
Figure 4.2.11. Abundance of major fish prey stocks and shrimp compared to cod growth. Not updated as some 2018 data still are missing.