Trophic structure of the Barents Sea fish community with the special reference to the cod stock recovery ability

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The trophic structure of the Barents Sea fish community is considered based on the data of different species diets. Some trophic groups were revealed. Their composition, ratio of different trophic groups and their inter-annual dynamics are analyzed. Besides, trophic structure of fish community in the Barents Sea and in some other areas is compared. Special attention was paid to the recovery ability of cod stock with consideration for trophic interrelations in fish communities from different North Atlantic seas. Analysis of trophic structure of the Barents Sea and other areas (North Sea, Western Greenland, Newfoundland-Labrador shelf) showed that only the Barents Sea cod stock ability to recover cannot be restricted by trophic relations among fishes due to lack of other abundant predatory species and low competition level caused by spatial-temporal changes.