Habitat associations of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and sympatric demersal fish communities within shallow inshore nursery grounds

Resolving the relationship between demersal fish and sublittoral biotic habitats and substrates is a key element in the protection of important nursery grounds for strengthening fish recruitment. In Norway, coastal Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) is a commercially and culturally important demersal fish for Norwegian coastal communities, and in recent decades the stock has declined to such an extent that a plan to rebuild the stock to biologically safe limits has been implemented. Yet, little is known about the specific biotic and abiotic habitat associations of the early-life stages of coastal cod, which is important for the management and protection of the species. The same shallow, sublitt…