FISH

Gadus morhua	Cod is one of the most common and economically important marine fishes in Norway. Cod is found extensively in the northern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are two main types: the migratory, oceanic cod and the non-migratory coastal cod. The coastal cod is a typical bottom-dwelling fish, whereas the migratory cod is more pelagic. Of the various stocks of cod in Norwegian waters, the Norwegian Arctic cod (spawning cod) is the most important. It spends most of its life in the Barents sea, but migrates towards the coast both as a juvenile and as a mature spawning cod. The cod's spawning grounds extend from the coast of Finnmark County all the way down to Stad. The most important spawning grounds are out beyond the Lofoten Islands. The migrations of spawning cod still from the basis for the most important seasonal fishing activity in Norway, the Lofoten Fishery. Young cod in the Barents sea migrate toward the Finnmark coast in the spring in pursuit of mature spawning capelin. It is called juvenile cod and forms the basis for the traditional spring cod fishery. Coastal cod are basically equivalent to the cod in the Barents sea, but they are more non-migratory in shallow water. They live in the intertidal zone and down to depths of approx. 600 meters. The large stock of cod in the Barents sea is well maintained, and each year about 450-500,000 tonnes are harvested from this stock. In some other areas, like the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the cod stock is not doing well. Fishing methods are bottom-trawling, Danish seines, long lines, nets, hand lines and pots. Farming of cod is on the rise.
N Torsk GB Cod F Cabillaud/ Morue D Dorsch/ Kabeljau E Bacalao I Merluzzo P Bacalhau PL Dorsz RUS Trecka


Pollachius virens	The saithe stock in Norwegian waters is usually divided into two groups, living north and south respectively of 62* N latitude. Both of the stocks have remained at a relatively stable level. Saithe is both a pelagic fish and a bottom- dwelling fish, living at depths of between 0 and 300 metres. It swims in shoals, which can be enormous where there is plenty of food. Saithe spawn along the coastal banks from the Lofoten Islands and south to the North sea. The saithe fry the drift northwards, carried by the coastal currents, and young saithe start to appear in the South and Southwest of Norway in the spring, arriving off the coast of Finnmark as late as August. Saithe migrate huge distaces from their feeding and growing grounds to their spawning grounds. Saithe is an important commercial species in Norway. Fishing for saithe takes place in coastal waters and in the waters off thecoast of Finnmark County, many saithe are caught using purse seines. In addition, the North Sea and banks to the north of western Finnmark are also good fishing grounds. Fishing methods are bottom trawling, Danish seines, purse seine, nets and hand lines.

	Atlantic halibut is the largest member of flatfish family, with its eyes on its greyish side and a white blind side. Juveniles are found along the coast of Norway in relatively shallow waters, whereas full-grown Atlantic halibut usually stay at depths of 300 to 2000 metres. Atlantic halibut spawn at depths of 300 to 700 metres in deep hollows in the banks off the coast or in the fjords. In addition to the coast of Norway, Atlantic halibut also spawn off the Faroe Islands, along the ridge that runs between Greenland, Iceland and Scotland, in the Denmark Strait, in the Davis Strait and on the banks of Newfoundland. Atlantic halibut is extremely vulnerable to overfishing - it is territorial, grows very slowly and matures late. In addition to minimum size limits and net mesh restrictions, fishing for Atlantic halibut using nets, trawl nets, Danish seine nets and other fixed equipment is prohibited between 20th of December and 31st of March. After many years of research and development work, the Atlantic halibut has been established as a farmed species. Fishing methods include long lines and ground nets



	Mackerel is a pelagic fish that can swim at great speeds and which in summer and autumn moves in huge shoals along the coast of Norway and into Skagerrak, the North Sea and the southern parts of the Norwegian Sea. In Europe, the mackerel family is divided into two main stocks: one living to the west of the British Isles and the other living in the North Sea and Skagerrak. The mackerel fished in the North Sea, Skagerrak and the Norwegian Sea generally belong to the western stock of mackerel. Each year, between 140 and 160 000 tonnes of mackerel are landed in Norway, most of which is Atlantic mackerel that has migrated into the North Sea and Skagerrak for the summer. Towards the end of the year, the fully matured fish swim out of the North Sea and towards their spawning grounds to the west and southwest of Ireland, where they start spawning in March. Most of the commercial fishing for mackerel is done in the summer months. The vessels used vary from boats that use nets and trolling lines along the coast to large, ocean-going seiners. Fishing methods include purse seines, pelagic trawlers, nets and trolling lines.



	In our marine areas, there are several different stocks of herring, but Norwegian spring-spawning herring are defi nitely the largest. In addition, there are other herring stocks, e.g. near Iceland, in the North Sea and in the Skagerrak. Norwegian spring-spawning herring spend the winter in the Vestfjord area. In February/March, they begin migrating toward the grounds off the northerly part of the West Norwegian coast (Nordvestlandet), where most of the spawning occurs. The growing grounds for young herring are located in the Barents Sea.In the past, Norwegian spring-spawning herring formed the basis for the Norwegian catch of winter herring, fat herring and whitebait. However, the changes in fishing methods as the result of developments in technological aids in the 1960s led to the near depletion of the stock through overfishing in the early 1970s, and herring had to be protected.By imposing strict regulations for a period of about 20 years, the stock has now been replenished and once again makes a major contribution to Norwegian fisheries. The Norwegian fishing season mainly occurs during the period from October to March when the herring have attained a high quality and are easily accessible. The herring fishing season for the North Sea and the Skagerrak mainly occurs during summer and autumn. Fishing methods include purse seines, pelagic trawlers and nets.



	There are three species of redfish in Norwegian waters. Those that are sold commercially are usually common redfish (Sebastes marinus) and rosefish (Sebastes mentella),whereas Norway redfi sh (Sebastes viviparus) is too small (max 32 cm) to be sold commercially. Redfish are found along the edge of the continental slope at depths of 100 to 500 metres, although individual specimens have been caught at depths of up to 900 metres. In the Norwegian Sea, redfish are pelagic fish. The three species have different dispersals, which overlap each other. Common redfi sh migrate in the summer. Fully matured common redfish have their feeding grounds in the Barents Sea, where they mate from August to October. In the winter, they begin to migrate south to their spawning grounds off the Vesterålen archipelago. The largest catches of redfish are made by nets and trawlers in the north of Norway.Secondary catches of redfish are made all year in most of the Norwegian economic zone and in the zone around Svalbard. Strict regulations are necessary in order to replenish vulnerable stocks. Fishing methods include trawler, Danish seine nets, nets.



	The monkfish, or anglerfish, can easily be recognised by its huge head, which constitutes half its entire length. Monkfish are found in tidal waters and down to depths of 600 metres, but during spawning season in the spring, they may go as deep as 2500 metres. Monkfish generally spawn in the waters to the West of the British Isles. In the past, monkfish was only caught as a bycatch in Norway, but more recently, commercial fisheries have started targeting monkfish. Fishing for monkfish is mainly done along the coast of the western counties of Møre og Romsdal and Sogn og Fjordane. Fishing methods include ground nets, bottom-trawling, ground lines.



	The characteristic powerful jaws and teeth of this species testify to its natural adaptation to its diet of sea urchins, mussels, snails and crabs. The Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) is generally found in rocky areas with seaweed, and in the spawning period,often all the way up to the intertidal zone. Wolffish spawn between November and February at depths of 40 to 200 metres. Spawning is earlier in more northerly areas and later in southern climes.The spotted catfish or spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) is more commonly found in arctic areas. Commercial fishery takes place in the Barents Sea and the banks off the north of Norway. Wolffish is now also farmed. Fishing methods include bottom-trawling, ground lines, ground nets.