Growth of polar cod, Boreogadus saida (Lepechin), in the Barents Sea

• Published in: ICES Journal of Marine Science
• Main Authors: Gjøsæter, Harald, Ajiad, Adnan M.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1994
• Subjects: Articles; Barents Sea; Boreogadus saida; polar cod
• Online Access: http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/51/1/115; https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.1994.1011

Observed length-at-age, and back-calculated lengths based on otolith measurements, were analysed from samples of polar cod collected in the Barents Sea in autumn of 1987 to 1989. An increase in individual length of 1-year-olds was observed from 1987 to 1989. Indications of a slower growth among the fish collected in the eastern areas, compared to those sampled further west, were evident in all three years. The growth histories of the year-classes 1984 and 1985 showed similar patterns, while the fishes of the year-class 1986 had a faster growth in their second year of life. The growth seemed to be quite linear up to age three for the first two year-classes, while the 1986 year-class showed a decreasing trend in growth with age. For all three year-classes there is a gradual decrease in growth as age increases.