Results for Greenland Halibut and American Plaice of the Spanish Survey in NAFO Divisions 3NO: Biomass, Length Distribution and Age Distribution for the Period 1997-2005

• Main Authors: González-Troncoso, D. (Diana), Román-Marcote, E. (Esther), Paz, X. (Xabier)
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo 2006
• Subjects: Greenland; North Atlantic; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/602

Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) and American plaice (Hipoglossoides platessoides) indices from the bottom trawl survey that Spain carries out in spring since 1995 in Divisions 3NO of the NAFO Regulatory Area are presented. Biomass, length distribution and age distribution are presented since 1997, year in that the survey extended the depth strata. In 2001, the R/V Vizconde de Eza replaced the C/V Playa de Menduíña in the execution of the survey. We present the transformed to the R/V Vizconde de Eza series for the period 1997-2000, and the original obtained data for the period 2002-2005. In 2001, there are data from the two vessels. This year the data were updated, so a new calibration was made. The changes affect the species length distribution. Greenland halibut biomass and abundance estimates present a decreasing trend along the period. It seems not to be a recuperation of the stock. But in last years it can be seen a presence of juveniles, mainly in 2004. For American plaice we can see an increasing trend along the whole period. For this species, a good recruitment occurred in 2004 (ages 1 and 2).