by

• Main Authors: D. W. Kulka, K. Sosobee, C. M. Miri, M. R. Simpson, Noaa Fisheries, Woods Hole Ma
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Hake; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.597.4194; http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2004/scr04-057.pdf

With the decline in “ traditional ” groundfish resources in the waters around Newfoundland, interest in the exploitation of alternate species including white hake (Urophycis tenuis) has increased. Presently there is a limited directed fishery for white hake on the southern Grand Banks. It is more commonly taken in mixed fisheries with cod, monkfish and skate. There is no quota for the hake fishery in NAFO Divisions 3LNO and Subdivision 3Ps and effort is regulated only by closures due to excessive by-catch of other species. This paper provides: a review of fishery catch, effort, and catch composition; an analysis of abundance, biomass and size composition from research vessel surveys; and an examination of spatial distribution, for white hake in NAFO Div. 3LNO and Subdiv. 3Ps, 1985-1998. By 1995, abundance had declined to lowest historic levels. However in 1999-2001, the biomass and abundance indices increased dramatically due to recruitment, and particularly a very large 1999 year-class. Locale and spatial extent of the stock remained relatively constant since the start of stratified research surveys in the 1970s, restricted to a narrow band along the southwest edge of the Grand Banks and into the Laurentian and Hermitage Channels where bottom temperatures are warmest (>4°C). White hake occupied a wide range of bottom depths along the slope from 150 to 800 m. Range of total length of hake has changed little over the years 12-120 cm. However, a very large 1999 year-class resulted in a dominant mode of 25 cm (1 year old) fish in the 2000 survey and a 40 cm mode (2 year olds) in 2001.