Movement of juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, from a spawning ground to a nursery ground along the Pacific coast of Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

AbstractThe movement of juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, from the Funka Bay spawning ground to the Doto nursery ground along the Pacific coast of Hokkaido was observed during spring through summer of 2000 and 2001. A positive relationship between the size of the juveniles and the position of the eastern front of their distribution indicated a relationship between the hatching period and the timing of the eastward movement of juveniles toward the Doto area. Based on the bathymetric distribution of juvenile pollock on the continental shelf in Hidaka Bay, the coastal current is suggested to play a role in the easterly movement of juveniles. However, further supporting evidence from physical and biological oceanographic studies is necessary to confirm this hypothesis.