Premium
Distribution of Witch Flounder in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and Changes in Its Growth and Sexual Maturity Patterns
Author(s) -
Bowering W. R.,
Brodie W. B.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1984)4<399:dowfit>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - otter , sexual maturity , fishery , bay , maturity (psychological) , flounder , witch , stock (firearms) , biology , fishing , oceanography , geography , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , geology , psychology , developmental psychology , archaeology
Witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence form dense prespawning concentrations in a localized area of deep water during the early winter months. At this time they are fished by the Newfoundland deep sea otter trawlers. During the summer, these fish disperse throughout the Gulf and do not form concentrations large enough to afford a viable otter trawl fishery. One area of localized abundance in St. George's Bay, however, allows for a small seiner fishery during summer months. Growth rates of both males and females in this area increased significantly since 1976. The life span of this stock also has decreased from 26 to 16 years while stock biomass appears to have remained stable and the mean size at maturity has not changed. There is some indication of a reduction in the age at maturity; however, the evidence presented cannot be regarded as conclusive. These changes in growth and maturity are discussed in relation to changes in catch levels since 1975.