A comparison of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides(Walbaum)) fisheries and distribution in the Northwest and Northeast Atlantic

Abstract

Abstract Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum)) are widely distributed over extensive geographic areas of both the Northwest and Northeast Atlantic Ocean with no break in the continuity of the respective distributions. Although the entire Greenland halibut resource in the North Atlantic is genetically homogeneous they mainly comprise a single interbreeding stock in each of the two regional areas investigated. Both stocks show similar distribution patterns over depth. Generally, larger fish become more abundant and smaller fish less abundant in progressively deeper water with peak abundance occurring over a depth range of 400-1000 m. Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic were observed to be most abundant in bottom temperatures mainly between 2 °C and 6 °C compared to 0 °C to 4 °C in the Northeast Atlantic. The fishery for Greenland halibut in the Northeast Atlantic was unregulated until 1992 although since 1995 catches substantially exceed those advised. The spawning stock size re...