Movements of Atlantic Halibut ( Hippoglossus hippoglossus ) in the Canadian North Atlantic

The results of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) tagging experiments conducted in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subareas 3 and 4 between 1958 and 1973 were reexamined. Data from the 230 recaptures indicated a tendency for fish released on the Scotian Shelf to move to th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Main Authors: Stobo, Wayne T., Neilson, John D., Simpson, Patricia G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1988
Subjects:
Aquatic Science
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Pacific
Newfoundland
North Atlantic
Northwest Atlantic
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f88-058
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f88-058
Description
Summary:The results of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) tagging experiments conducted in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Subareas 3 and 4 between 1958 and 1973 were reexamined. Data from the 230 recaptures indicated a tendency for fish released on the Scotian Shelf to move to the northeast, while fish released on the Newfoundland Grand Bank showed no preferred direction of movement. The Laurentian Channel does not appear to be a barrier to migration for this species. Small (<75 cm) fish moved further than larger fish. The seemingly limited movement by larger fish may be due to acyclic annual migration between feeding and spawning grounds, similar to that suggested for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). The extensive movement of Atlantic halibut throughout most of the Canadian Northwest Atlantic suggests that a single area would be the most feasible management unit, encompassing the Scotian Shelf and southern Grand Bank regions.

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