Adult Redfish, Sebastes mentella, Pelagic over Oceanic Depths in the Labrador Sea

Abstract

Fifteen adult redfish were taken on floating longlines set at 180–460 m, July 16–19, 1965 and two on March 21 and 24, 1966 on floating longlines set at 180–550 m at the mid-mouth of the Labrador Sea over depths of 3060–3660 m. Additionally two were taken from a porbeagle's stomach in the same area on August 23, 1965. The redfish were mature Sebastes mentella, 33–41 cm long, and relatively heavily infested with Sphyrion lumpi.These redfish were probably part of an oceanic population of pelagic S. mentella which has previously been shown to exist in the eastern portion of the large eddy system extending from south of Iceland and Greenland, east of Labrador and Northeast Newfoundland shelves, and north of the Grand Bank and Flemish Cap slopes.The biology and distribution of the pelagic oceanic redfish of this area are reviewed.