Preliminary report of the Norwegian groundfish survey at Bear Island and west-Spitsbergen in the autumn 1985

Abstract

This report describes the results from a stratified bottom trawl survey carried out in September/October 1985. The cod stock was dominated by the 1982 and the 1983 year classes. Also the 1984 year class recruited considerably to the area. The year classes 1982-1984 made up 84% of the total index in numbers and the index increased by 130% from 1984 to 1985. The haddock was totally dominated by the 1983 and 1984 year classes and the total index in numbers decreased while the corresponding in weight increased from 1984 to 1985. Acoustic abundance estimation of cod and haddock gave figures of roughly half the size of the trawl indices. The most abundant species in the area were long rough dab and redfish.