Stratification determines the fate of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea
In the Baltic Sea, two cod stocks evolve independently. Also the juveniles of two economically important flatfish species, flounder and plaice, live there within limited space. This is possible due to the irregular distribution of water masses of different salinity in this inland sea. Scientists of GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua) at the Technical University of Denmark explain how these hydrographic conditions affect the distribution of fish eggs and growth of economically important fish stocks. Their results are published in the journal Progress in Oceanography. For the researchers, the results are sufficient evidence that fisheries management must take into account regional conditions.