A new international research project called CODSPA has just begun. The project aims to study how stress affects cod reproduction during spawning season. Researchers from Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands are working together on this important study.

What is CODSPA?

CODSPA stands for Cod Spawning Project. It will run from 2025 to 2028 and is funded by NordForsk, an organization that supports Nordic research cooperation. The project leader is Marco Vindas, and the team includes scientists from various universities and research centers across the Nordic countries. The official website link about the project and participants can be found here: https://www.nmbu.no/en/research/projects/codspa

Why is this research important?

There’s a debate about whether fishing should be limited during cod spawning season to protect the fish population. Different countries have different approaches to this issue. The CODSPA project will help scientists understand if closing certain areas to fishing during spawning season is effective in protecting cod populations.

CODSPA Workshop

Last week, Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir and Michelle Valliant from the University of Iceland, Research Centre of the Westfjords, met fellow team members in person at the Marine Research Institute in Austevoll in the west coast of Norway. During the workshop, they learned and practiced with the other members the techniques that will be used to collect samples.

What will the researchers do?

The team will use several methods to study the effect of stress and reproduction in cod:

• Collect water samples to study DNA from spawning fish that have been in the area, using a technique called environmental DNA

• Take blood and mucus samples from the fish

• Gather eggs and sperm from cod

• Check the quality of the eggs and sperm

• Check the quality of the eggs and sperm

• Study cod brain tissue

They’ll use this information to study how stress from fishing activities affects cod spawning, egg fertilization, hatching, and the growth of young cod.

What’s next?

The first season of data collection will start soon, as wild Atlantic cod in Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands begin their annual spawning this coming spring. The results of this study will help fisheries managers make better decisions about protecting cod populations while supporting sustainable fishing practices.