Marine protected areas (MPAS) are valuable tools for conserving living marine resources

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the Gulf Of Maine Research Institute a cooperative agreement totaling $431,985 on June 1, 2026, under the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program (CFDA 11.478). The award funds research evaluating how marine protected areas (MPAs) may differentially protect Atlantic cod ecotypes in the Gulf of Maine and assess habitat connectivity for these populations under rapid environmental warming. The research addresses the major decline of Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine, a species with significant cultural, ecological, and economic value, driven partly by overfishing and exacerbated by warming waters at a rate three times the global average. The study focuses on two genetically isolated spawning ecotypes—spring and winter spawners—that possess adaptive genetic variation and differ in their seasonal temperature exposure and overlap with existing groundfish closure areas. The research will determine whether simple MPA designs adequately protect mobile species with complex, season-varying habitat requirements or whether more connected habitat approaches are needed. The period of performance runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2030, with place of performance in Portland, Maine. This award is part of NOAA's Competitive Research Program, which funds peer-reviewed collaborative research producing actionable science to support coastal management and policy decisions.

In the context of sustainable fisheries, MPAS may provide benefits by protecting critical habitats for fish, which can have positive outcomes for their feeding, growth and reproduction, all of which can translate to higher population growth and recovery potential. However, MPA effectiveness may vary depending on their design and the species that rely on them. For example, sedentary species with particular habitat needs may benefit from simple MPA designs, whereas mobile species with more complex habitat requirements, varying over their lifetimes and among seasons, may require a more connected habitat approach. Atlantic COD is an iconic species in the gulf of maine (GOM) with unparalleled cultural, ecological, and economic value. COD have experienced major declines in recent decades partially due to overfishing, which has been exacerbated by rapidly warming waters; the GOM is warming at a rate three times faster than the global average. While the situation is dire for COD, IT could be worse if not for the existence of permanent groundfish closures (MPAS). Additionally, some COD in the GOM may benefit from adaptations that confer warm tolerance. Specifically, GOM COD exist as two spawning ecotypes (spring and winter spawners) and these types are genetically isolated and possess adaptive genetic variation associated with variable thermal regimes. Furthermore, otolith microchemistry analyses have shown that the winter ecotype tends to overlap more with closed areas and experiences seasonal temperature cycles. Meanwhile, the spring type appears to experience uniformly cold temperatures, which would be expected if they make seasonal movements to deeper basins, possibly outside of closed areas. This study aims to evaluate how MPAS may differentially protect COD ecotypes in the GOM and assess habitat connectivity for these types under directional environmental change (i.e., rapid warming). Using an expanded acoustic telemetry array and species distribution models (that account for depth, temperature, and prey fields), the research will track fine-scale movements of both ecotypes, identify critical habitats, and predict distribution shifts under warming scenarios. The results will inform the design of resilient, connected MPAS (e.g., newly proposed cashes ledge national marine sanctuary) that support diverse habitat needs for COD ecotypes, thereby ensuring the conservation of COD populations and the sustainability of GOM fisheries. While focused on COD, this framework and its outcomes could be broadly applicable to other fish species, offering insights into how MPAS can support diverse marine life under environmental change.