Seasonal variation of the diet of cod (Gadus morhua L.) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.) at a herring spawning ground

Abstract

The paper describes diet variation of cod and haddock at a spawning ground of the Norwegian Spring Spawning Herring. Samples were collected at bimonthly intervals through a one-year period, including during and following the spawning season of herring in March-April. The significance of herring and herring eggs is analysed in relation to the diet of the two demersal species during the remainder of the year. Both species show strong diet shifts when herring or herring eggs appear in the area.