In late spring 2005, about a year and half after the cod were stocked in their offshore cage, researchers conducted a pilot live harvest. The fish were in excellent health and weighed about three pounds each. To give cod time to adjust to a new depth, Project researchers transferred them into a smaller cage, then slowly raised it closer to the surface.

With available technology, the live harvest was a labor intensive and challenging process. Future success will require more appropriate infrastructure. Cages, for example, should have the utility for controlled ascent and descent, something a new cage being tested by project engineers is designed to do.

Harvest operations for the fresh filet market began in November and December of 2005. In this process, fish were pumped directly on to the boat through a harvesting tube inserted into the Sea Station cage.

Researchers observed that while earlier harvests produced good quality flesh, as the fish approached spawning, the yield decreased and the flesh wasn’t as firm, so the final harvest was delayed until February 2006. With improved harvest methods most of the remaining fish were harvested live, and kept in nearshore pens for distribution to the live market throughout the spring.

Next >