Distribution and abundance of juvenile Northeast Arctic Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in relation to survey coverage and the physical environment

Abstract

Based on annual bottom-trawl surveys in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area in 1983–2000, variations in distribution and abundance of age 1 Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides Walbaum) are described. The surveys showed high contrasts in abundance during the period, with extremely low abundance in 1990–1995 associated with a northerly displacement of the distribution within the survey area. A reduced abundance was not reflected in VPA-based estimates of total abundance of 1-group halibut. We conclude that the survey covered a varying proportion of the total distribution area. Survey abundance, the range of distribution within the survey area, and the proportion covered by the surveys were all negatively correlated with temperature in the Atlantic Water of the Spitsbergen Current. Possible mechanisms linking survey results to the physical environment are discussed.