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Effects of freezing on length and mass measurements of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea
Author(s) -
McQueen Kate,
Mion Monica,
Hilvarsson Annelie,
Casini Michele,
Olesen Hans J.,
Hüssy Karin,
Radtke Krzysztof,
Krumme Uwe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14171
Subject(s) - gadus , atlantic cod , baltic sea , zoology , gadidae , fishery , biology , economic shortage , defrosting , shrinkage , oceanography , mathematics , physics , statistics , fish <actinopterygii> , linguistics , philosophy , air conditioning , geology , government (linguistics) , thermodynamics
An aggregated sample of 925 Atlantic cod Gadus morhua collected by four countries in different regions of the Baltic Sea during different seasons were measured (total length, L T = 161–890 mm and weighed (mass, M = 45–6900 g) both before freezing and after defrosting. The cod were found to decrease significantly in both L T and M following death and frozen storage. There was an average (±SD) change in L T of −2.91% (±0.05%) following freezing, independent of starting L T . Total M changed by −2.65% (±0.14%), independent of starting mass. Shrinkage of L T and M did not differ significantly between 1 and 4 months frozen storage, though L T shrinkage was significantly greater after 1 or 4 months in the freezer compared with after 5 days. There was significant variation in L T and M shrinkage between regions of capture. A significant negative relationship between condition of cod and L T or M change was also observed. Equations to back‐calculate fresh L T and M from thawed L T , M and standard length ( L S ), gutted L T , gutted L S and gutted M are provided.