The decline of the herring stocks and the gadoid outburst

The gadoid outburst in the sixties occurred as the various herring stocks in the North Sea were in decline and it was tempting to assume that the two events were related. An enquiry was made into the possible mechanisms by which such a succession might take place, but they are difficult to substantiate. Indeed, until it is known how populations stabilize themselves it might prove difficult to understand how they compete.