The Iceland-Faroe; Ridge International (Ices
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238 CHAPTER 9 OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF DEMERSAL FISH ON THE I CELAND-FAROE RIDGE IN RELATION TO BOTTOM TEMPERATURES AND DEPTHS By A. K o t t h a u s , Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Zentrale, Hamburg and G. K r e f f t , Institut für Seefischerei der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Fischerei, Hamburg INTRODUCTION of ichthyofauna. The patterns of distribution of At Since the days of Sir J o h n M u r r a y , scientists have lantic and Arctic forms were often rather irregular but, well understood how significant is the chain of sub on the whole, followed more or less distinctly a marine ridges — part of which is formed by the Iceland- dividing line along the top of the Ridge. Both hydro- Faroe Ridge —as a barrier between the bottom fauna graphical and topographical factors may be involved of the Atlantic and that of the Arctic. The sharp in the formation of this peculiar pattern. differences in temperature on either side of the Ridge The “ICES-Overflow-Programme” offered a wel are reflected by equally sharp differences in their come chance to learn something more about the fauna, that of the Norwegian Sea being a very peculiar factors governing the distribution of fish living at or one. O f the 433 species of animals listed by M u r r a y close to the bottom of the area. Therefore, immediately {vide N. B. M a r s h a l l : Aspects of Deep Sea Biology: after completing the third hydrographical survey in 357, 1954) on one or other side of the Ridge, only 48 the same area (19.-22. June, 1960), it was decided to have been found on both sides. The fauna of the Ridge spend a few more days with R. V. “Anton Dohrn” in itself, on the contrary, might consist of a mixture of getting some information concerning the relationship both Atlantic and Arctic elements, with a marked between fish distribution, water temperature, and predominance of eurythermie forms. This should be depth. It was assumed that bottom temperatures would especially true for sedentary and slow-moving animals. not have changed significantly within the few days If we assume that the phenomenon of the overflow of and so further observations were made only at one cold Arctic water across the Ridge is confined to some station (AD 759/1960). Here, according to the chart special passages determined perhaps by the topography prepared by Dr. T a it for the third survey, the of the Ridge, then this phenomenon might cause a temperature ought to have been between 0° and 1°C. much more differentiated pattern of distribution of However, the actual bottom temperature when fishing the invertebrate bottom fauna. Unfortunately, a was started at this station was found to be — 0’02°C. detailed survey relevant to this question has not yet Thus the bottom temperatures seem to change more been undertaken. rapidly than was expected. With this information in A pulsating overflow with rapid temperature changes mind, one cannot be sure of the degree to which the near the bottom on one side of the Ridge ought to be temperatures used from Dr. T a i t ’s chart for the paralleled by similar changes in the distribution of the preparation of our distributional charts are reliable. more active, faster-moving animals. In the commercial For that reason, and since only 18 hauls could be fisheries on the northern side of the Ridge, such made in the time available, there is included in this phenomena have sometimes been observed by our report the larger and more detailed information ob trawlermen; rapid changes in the availability of red- tained in a cruise the year before (28. April-6. May, fish have occurred at the same location within a few 1959), which covered nearly the same area and in hours. Long-term variations have also been observed. some cases even the same stations. During this cruise Earlier research vessel cruises to the “ Rosengarten” bottom temperatures were measured immediately be have also shown a rather complex distribution pattern fore fishing commenced at each station. However, due 239 Table 9:1 List of trawl stations. “Anton Dohrn” cruises April/May 1959 and May/June 1960 Station Position Data Depth Bottom Fishing No. N. lat. W. long. m. temp. °Cj1 time Remarks A. 1959 Cruise. 3 2 1 8 ......................... 28. April 64°20' 12°25' 450-460 2-8 19-20—19-50 3223 ......................... 29. „ 63°40' 12°30' 450 5-1 06-45-07-15 3224 ......................... 29. „ 63°35' 12°29' 440-460 5-1 08-30-10-30 Commercial fishery 3225 ......................... 29. 99 63°37' 11°39' 350 5-4 14-10-14-40 3226 ........................ 29. „ 63°40' 10°45' 430^50 2-7 17-55-18-25 3229 ........................ 30. 99 63° 19' 09°37' 450 1-1 06-45-07-15 3230 ........................ 30. „ 63°30' 11°10' 310 5-6 12-45-13-15 3231 ........................ 30. 99 63° 12' 11°40' 400 4-1 15-50-16-20 3232 ........................ .. 30. „ 63°24' 12°38' 500-510 3-8 21-00-21-30 3236 ........................ 1 . May 63°35' 12°30' 450 _ 06-30-08-30 Commercial fishery 3237 ......................... 1 . ,, 63°46' 12°25' 430 _ 10-00-11-40 Commercial fishery 3238 ........................ 1 . „ 63°43' 13°00' 650 3-6 14-30-15-00 3252 ......................... 2. ,, 63°00' 08°36' 440 _ 23-50-00-20 3253 ......................... .. 3. >» 63°02' 10°35' 450 1-9 06-50-07-20 3254 ......................... 3. „ 63°00' 12° 17' 470-480 4-7 17-10-17-40 3255 ......................... 3. „ 63°09' 13°18' 735-760 4-2 22-40-23-40 Trawl heavily damaged 3267 ......................... 6. >> 61°15' 08°05' 750-805 -0-2 13-40-14-30 Came fast; net damaged B. I960 Cruise. 751/60...................... 19. June 64°11' 12°13' 445 6 10-50-11-20 752/60...................... 19. >> 64°20' 12°23' 450 1-2 13-25-13-55 Came fast; net lost 754/60...................... 19. 99 63°53' 12°27' 466 6 18-55-19-05 Came fast; net undamaged 755/60 ...................... 19. >> 63°53' 11°50' 370 2-3 20-55-21-25 Came fast; net damaged 756/60...................... 20. 99 63°36' 12°30' 450 6 07-20-07-50 757/60 ...................... 20. 99 63°37' 12°15' 400 ■111] 6 08-50-09-20 758/60 ...................... 20. 99 63°36' 11°27' 320-330 3-4 11-45-12-15 759/70...................... 20. 99 63°37' 10° 46' 480 0-12 14-40-15-10 761/60 ...................................... 20. 99 63°23' 10°40' 410 1-2 19-50-20-20 762/60 ...................... 20. 63°20' 10°40' 320 1-2 21-20-21-50 763/60 ...................... 21. 99 63°23' 11°37' 400 3 06-50-07-20 764/60...................... 21. 99 63°22' 12°33' 500 5 11-50-12-05 Came fast; net damaged 765/60...................... 21. 99 63°10' 12°43' 500 5-6 13-50-14-20 766/60...................... 21. 99 62°58' 12°22' 490-500 4-5 18-20-18-50 767/60...................... 21. 99 63°00' 11°45' 480 4 20-45-21-15 768/60...................... .. 22. 99 63°or 10°47' 450 3-4 06-45-07-15 769/60 ...................... 22. 63°00' 09°50' 480-500 2 09-40-10-10 771/60...................... 22. 62°46' 09°09' 470 4-5 14-50.15-05 Came fast; net undamaged 1 The bottom temperatures for the 1960 cruise were abstracted from a chart of the third survey prepared by Dr. T ait. 2 The actual bottom temperature was stated to be — 0-02° C. to time-consuming racial investigations on redfish, it “demersal fish” as applied in this report. In addition was not always possible to work up the catches in detail, to the “ true” bottom fish, a few other species are i.e. the precise numbers of specimens of the different included which may spend their lives partially in mid species are not always available. In such instances the water rather than at the sea-bed. Such species are e.g. numbers of individuals to each “Korb” (basket) were the greater silver smelt, Argentina silus (Ascanius) and estimated ; reliable factors for such a computation were the blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou (Risso). Both available. The number of trawl stations on the 1959 of these species may occasionally be taken by hook cruise was 17. and line even close to the surface; however, the main Generally, standard hauls of 30 minutes duration habitat at least of Argentina is on or close to the bottom, were made in both years. In some cases, such as when where according to C o h e n (1958), it seems to prefer the net came fast, the fishing time was shorter, and in the edge of the Continental Shelf, thus often sharing others, when fishing for commercial purposes during the grounds with the redfish, which is, likewise, not a the 1959 cruise for instance, it was extended up to two true bottom-dweller. Most likely the blue whiting is in hours. its habit much more a midwater fish than Argentina. It Some comments may be made concerning the term is, however, very commonly encountered in catches of 240 q> co O LO c o CM -y* CO O ï^* T t1 C l CD db cm C i 4 * c ô à ) c ô CD c ô r^> C i lO uô à i 4 - CM TT ^ CO D CD CM CO CD t ^ C M O ^ C M CM —• CO m co cd cm O O O O 0 c o 0 cm O r>» C l in o CD CO CM Tj- r -- O CM CO ID T f CD CM u bo .