A preliminary review of the joint investigations on the distribution of herring in the Norwegian and Iceland Seas 1950- 1970

Abstract

The paper reviews the joint international investigation of the distribution of the Atlanto-Scandian herring in relation to temperature during the period prior to the collapse of the stock in the late 1960s. The results of the international surveys clearly show that the ocean climate was relatively mild during 1950-1964. On the other hand the years 1965-1969 were very cold and the nature of the East Icelandic Current changed dramatically. During the mild period the herring were a ble to cross the cold tongue while during the cold period the migration pattern of the herring as well as the feeding area shifted from north of Iceland to the Bear Island area. The mapping of the migration route of the Atlanto-Scandian herring was of great practical value for the herring industry during the 1950s and in the 1960s.