Excess post-hypoxic oxygen consumption in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in response to air exposure

By examining Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, a commercially important and ecologically vulnerable species,
this study sought to quantify the excess post-hypoxic oxygen consumption (EPHOC) of air exposure in
order to evaluate the metabolic cost at three exposure durations. Intermittent-flow respirometry was
used to determine EPHOC while fyke net fishing in shallow waters was chosen as fishing method to eliminate interactions between multiple catch-related stressors. Reflex action mortality predictor (RAMP)
tests were performed along with monitoring of delayed mortality to assess the condition of the Atlantic
cod. This study revealed no significant difference between the EPHOC quantified over a six hour period
at neither one, three or five minutes of air exposure. The results from the present study demonstrated
that Atlantic cod was able to recover from up to five minutes of air exposure with no mortality over a
24h period.