Marine Life

The marine environment of Gilbert Bay is home to a vast diversity of marine life.  These include various species of marine plants, plankton, fish, and marine mammals.  The area is also inhabited by several marine-related bird species including black duck and geese.  Some of the marine life that has been observed in Gilbert Bay is listed below, along with pictures of some specimens.

Invertebrates

• Blue Mussel

• Clam

• Cockle

• Duck Foot Whelk

• Green Sea Urchin

• Iceland Scallop

• Northern Whelk

• Jellyfish

Pelagic Fishes

• Atlantic Herring

• Atlantic Mackeral

• Capelin

• Maiden Ray

Anadromous Fishes

• Arctic Char

• Atlantic Salmon

• Brook Trout

• Rainbow Smelt

• Stickleback

Groundfish

• Alligator Fish

• American Plaice

• American Sandlance

• Atlantic Cod

• Banded Gunnel

• Dogfish

• Greenland Cod

• Lumpfish

• Ocean Catfish

• Ocean Pout

• Radiated Shanny

• Rock Gunnel

• Sculpin

• Sea Raven

• Winter Flounder

Marine Mammals

• Atlantic White-Sided Dolphin

• Bearded Seal

• Fin Whale

• Grey Seal

• Harbour Porpoise

• Harbour Seal

• Harp Seal

• Hooded Seal

• Humpback Whale

• Killer Whale

• Long-Finned Pilot Whale

• Minke Whale

• Ringed Seal

• Sei Whale

• White-Beaked Dolphin

Marine-Related Birds

• American Black Duck

• Atlantic Puffin

• Bald Eagle

• Black Guillemot

• Black Scooter

• Black-Legged Kittiwake

• Canada Goose

• Common Eider

• Common Goldeneye

• Common Loon

• Common Merganser

• Common Murre

• Common Tern

• Great Black-Backed Gull

• Green-Winged Teal

• Herring Gull

• Hudsonian Godwit

• Osprey

• Plover

• Razorbill

• Red-Breasted Merganser

• Rough-Legged Hawk

• Sandpiper

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Gilbert Bay Cod

Gilbert Bay cod have been the focus of considerable scientific research in recent years.  From 1996 to 1999, combined efforts from scientists confirmed the long held traditional knowledge that Gilbert Bay has its own unique cod population.

The most obvious trait of the Gilbert Bay cod is their appearance, as their coloration is distinctly different than other cod fished in offshore areas.  The general colour range is from reddish brown to golden, and has been attributed primarily to a carotenoid rich diet of invertebrates that makes up a significant proportion of their diet, compared to that of offshore cod.

Tagging experiments indicate that cod remain in Gilbert Bay throughout the year.  While they may move to and mix with offshore cod in the outer part of the bay in the summer, they return to the inner part of the bay to over winter and spawn.

Summary of Biological Characteristics of Gilbert Bay Cod

The timing and length of spawning for Gilbert Bay cod also differs from that of offshore cod populations.  Gilbert Bay cod spawn in specific areas confined within the bay between the end of May and early June.  In contrast, other stocks spawn offshore and usually between January and March.  Again, this characteristic provides little or no opportunity for mixing during reproduction that would allow a transfer of genes between the stocks.

Gilbert Bay cod are also known to grow slower and exhibit lower reproductive potential than northern cod elsewhere (northern cod refers to cod in NAFO divisions 2J3KL).  Hence, their production and recruitment capacity is low.  It has been suggested that this slower growth rate is a combination of extended periods of low water temperatures and limited availability of food.  Gilbert Bay cod will over winter in sub-zero temperatures, whereas offshore cod generally remain in waters above 0 ºC.

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