Report of Norwegian blue whiting survey, spring 1988

Abstract

During the period 25 March - 24 April 1988, the blue whiting stock was surveyed in the spawning area west of The British Isles. It was found distributed along the continental slope, but this year a greater part was also distributed in the deep sea area westwards to the Rockall Bank. These were mostly postspawners migrating back to the Norwegian Sea. A total of 7.1 mill. t of blue whiting was recorded, 6.8 mill. t of which belonged to the northern spawning stock. The 1983-yearclass was the most numerous one, constituting 32 % of the stock. The 1982- yearclass, previously known to be very rich, was only poorly represented. This confirms the observation from 1987 that it is on its way out of the stock.