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Multi‐decadal variations in spawning ground use in Northeast Arctic haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus )
Author(s) -
Langangen Øystein,
Stige Leif Christian,
Kvile Kristina Ø.,
Yaragitalia A.,
Skjæraasen Jon Egil,
Vikebø Frode B.,
Ottersen Geir
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
fisheries oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1365-2419
pISSN - 1054-6006
DOI - 10.1111/fog.12264
Subject(s) - haddock , fishery , arctic , latitude , oceanography , the arctic , environmental science , geography , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , geology , geodesy
Despite the importance both in an ecological and management context, much uncertainty remains about the underlying factors controlling spawning ground use in marine fish. Here, we investigate how spawning ground use of Northeast Arctic (NEA) haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus ) has changed over time. By combining data from a Soviet‐Russian egg survey conducted over a 35 year period (1959–1993) with a biophysical drift model, we estimate annual median spawning latitudes of NEA haddock. Furthermore, we test for statistical association between the median latitude of spawning and covariates that are candidates for shaping the spawning distribution of haddock. The results indicate no association with temperature, as measured at the Kola transect, or demographic structure, as measured by the mean weight of spawners. However, we find a positive and significant association between spawning latitude and spawning stock biomass, indicating that density‐dependence may be more important in shaping spawning location than other factors such as temperature and demographic structure. A potential mechanism for the reported effect of spawning stock biomass may act through the distribution at the feeding grounds, which is reported to expand north‐ and eastwards at high population density.