Migrations of Greenland Halibut,Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, in the Northwest Atlantic from Tagging in the Labrador-Newfoundland Region

Abstract

Migratory patterns of Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic were investigated by two tagging experiments in 1969 and 1971 using longlines to capture the fish and three experiments in 1979-80 using otter trawls. Of nearly 24,400 tags applied, only 1.3% have been recovered to the end of 1983, the low recovery rate being attributed partly to the low level of offshore fishing activity and partly to high tagging mortality of fish caught in otter trawls. Results of the White Bayexperiment in 1969 showed some movement of Greenland halibut from the tagging area to offshore deepwater areas of Labrador and Davis Strait, although many of the recaptures were in the general area of tagging. However, the Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay experiments in 1971 and 1979 respectively indicated little movements from the tagging sites. The Funk Island Bank experiments in 1979 and 1980 indicated substantial movement to coastal waters of northeastern Newfoundland in summer, but tags were also recovered both south and north of the tagging areas, the most northerly of the latter from the northern edge of Hamilton Bank. From tagging experiments off Labrador in 1980, the few returns ind icated eastward movement to the deepwater areas of the continental slope, with one recaptu re from deep water off the northern tip of Labrador.