Scientific justification: Canadian and US stock assessments for Atlantic cod indicate considerable fluctuation in stock abundance and recruitment over the last 20 years. This recovering resource is regulated on a stock-by-stock basis, with varying management measures in place. Since the 1920s, a number of small-scale, independent tagging studies were conducted, but each varies considerably in spatial and geographic coverage, tagging technique, and the information collected. Furthermore, information was rarely shared between programs. The Northeast Regional Cod Tagging Program was initiated to study cod movements using a standardized technique on a region-wide scale, whilst simultaneously achieving international collaboration between fishermen and scientists. The data will compliment future stock assessments by providing current information on movement patterns and growth in the Gulf of Maine and neighboring waters.

Technical objectives (prioritized): 1) Identify the migration patterns of Atlantic cod throughout the Gulf of Maine and neighboring Canadian and US waters; 2) Identify the extent of mixing between cod in these water bodies; 3) Obtain in situ growth increment information; 4) Investigate the roles of temperature, depth and reproductive condition on migration and growth.