DFO PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense - Alison Frey
Department of Fisheries Oceanography
"The Spawning Dynamics and Biology of Cod in Southern New England Offshore Wind Energy Areas"
By: Alison Frey
Advisor: Steven X. Cadrin (½ûÂþÌìÌÃ)
Committee members
Kevin Stokesbury (½ûÂþÌìÌÃ)
Lauran Brewster (½ûÂþÌìÌÃ)
and Greg DeCelles (Ørsted)
Thursday June 5, 2025
1:00 PM
SMAST East 101-103
836 S. Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford
and via Zoom
Abstract:
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) supported a robust fishery through most of the 20th century, but due to overfishing and environmental change, stocks collapsed in the 1990s, and populations remain below target biomass levels. Successful spawning and recruitment are critical for stock rebuilding, but spawning is a sensitive period within the lifecycle of cod and is vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. The most southern cod stock off Southern New England is currently assessed to be overfished with overfishing occurring. Offshore wind energy development is occurring on a known spawning ground, Cox Ledge, which is designated as Essential Fish Habitat and a Habitat Area of Particular Concern, and may have impacts on cod reproduction. To characterize impacts of offshore wind development on spawning of Southern New England cod, data on habitat use and spawning dynamics were collected via acoustic telemetry to compare pre-construction and post-construction residency to the spawning ground (chapter 1). Environmental drivers of cod presence on Cox Ledge will be assessed with generalized linear models (chapter 2), and biological sampling will be used to estimate size at maturity to inform the data-moderate Southern New England stock assessment (chapter 3). This proposed work will aid in effective assessment and management of fisheries and offshore wind interactions with vulnerable living marine resources.
Join Zoom Meeting
Topic: Ali Frey Thesis Defense
Time: Jun 5, 2025 12:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Note: Meeting passcode required, email contact below to receive
To request the Zoom passcode, or for any other questions, please email Callie Rumbut
SMAST East 101-103
:
Callie Rumbut
c.rumbut@umassd.edu