• Main Authors: J. Northw, Atl Fish Sci, Ole A. Jørgensen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Key words; abundance; distribution; food/feeding; G. halibut; pelagic; W. Greenland; Greenland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.578.1552; http://journal.nafo.int/J21/jorgensen2.pdf

The extent of pelagic occurrence of Greenland halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum), in Greenland waters was evaluated from four pelagic surveys, two conducted at deep water areas where the commercial fishery takes place and two in areas considered to be important nursery areas. The results from the pelagic surveys are compared to results from bottom trawl surveys conducted in the same areas and at the same time. Pelagic behaviour was further supported by investigations of stomach contents from Greenland halibut sampled during pelagic and bottom surveys, and by analysis of commercial bottom trawl data. One-year-old Greenland halibut were abundant and they undertook vertical feeding migrations at night. Older Greenland halibut were rarely encountered pelagically, and the analysis of commercial trawl data showed that the catchability of Greenland halibut did not vary diurnally.