Spawning locations of mackerel icefish at South Georgia

• Main Authors: Everson, I., North, A.W., Cooper, A.P.R., McWilliam, N.C., Kock, K.-H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: CCAMLR 2001
• Subjects: Marine Sciences; Shag Rocks; Cumberland Bay; Icefish
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18580/; https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18580/1/07everson-etal.pdf; https://www.ccamlr.org/en/publications/science_journal/ccamlr-science-volume-8/ccamlr-science-volume-8107-118

Historical information on the distribution of spawning and larval mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) within CCAMLR Subarea 48.3 (South Georgia and Shag Rocks) is assessed. This is considered alongside new data from commercial fisheries and research surveys. It is concluded that there is strong evidence of inshore spawning at South Georgia during April within and close to the bays on the north side of the island. Some spawning almost certainly occurs over much of the island shelf, althougl~th is appears to be at a very much lower intensity than inshore. There is some evidence of spawning at Shag Rocks. There are also indications of a possible second spawning season in January, although the evidence is weak. Concentrations of larval icefish within Cumberland Bay are an order of magnitude higher than in adjacent coastal waters and their density declines exponentially offshore. All this evidence indicates that the most important spawning locations are within the bays.