Contribution to the Biology of the Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor) in the Northwest Atlantic

Wilfred Templeman

Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, P. O. Box 5667
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5X1

Source - Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science, Volume 7(1): 47-55
ISSN-0250-6408

 

Templeman, W. 1986. Contribution to the Biology of the Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor) in the Northwest Atlantic. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci. 7(1): 47-55. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v7.a6

 

Data on the biology of the spotted wolffish in the Northwest Atlantic were obtained in 1946-67 during research fishing with otter trawls and long lines. Length frequencies of males and females showed no consistent differences. The longest male was 118 cm and the longest female was 121 cm. Egg diameters and ovarian weights of mature fish indicated that spawning of most spotted wolffish occurred during or soon after July-August. Sexual maturity of females over most of the area began at sizes of 75-80 cm or larger, but there were indications that maturity may have begun at smaller sizes off West Greenland and on Flemish Cap. Males weighed more than females at the larger sizes. Weights of the larger size-groups in July-September were lower than in other quarters of the year, in agreement with the probable spawning period. The mean vertebral number of 684 spotted wolffish was 77.64, with the range being 74-80. There were no significant differences in vertebral means throughout the area, although West Greenland and Flemish Cap data showed possibilities of being lower. The dorsal fin-ray mean for 45 specimens was 75.90, with the range being 74-77. The correlation between dorsal fin-ray and vertebral numbers was highly significant. Invertebrates and fish composed 77 and 23% by volume respectively of the stomach contents. Echinoderms, which constituted 52% of the volume, were the most important prey group.

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Language - English
Publisher - Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), Dartmouth, N.S., Canada
Publication Date - December 1986
Publication Type - Journal Article

Citation: Templeman, W. 1986. Contribution to the Biology of the Spotted Wolffish (Anarhichas minor) in the Northwest Atlantic. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci. 7(1): 47-55. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v7.a6