Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et Océans Canada Canada Science Sciences Departm nt of Fishe.ries Oc QL Library 626 U5313 ne doit se qu'a des !ms 'études pnvées SE 11 2000 no.2 .. may de recherche Tout usage à d'autrs 2000 authon zation of the fins _ copyright owner peut exiger autorisation Ministère des Pêches et des c.2 du roit d'auteur Océan s O TTAWA ATLANTIC GROUNDFISH ATLANTIC GROUNDFISH 2 Groundfish species in the North- west Atlantic declined dramatically in the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely because of overfishing. Almost all Canadian fisheries for cod and several other groundfish fisheries on the Atlantic coast were prohibited for several years to allow the stocks to rebuild. By the year 2000, the abundance of most of these species continued to be low in most areas. Offshore fisheries are conducted mainly by large trawlers (>30 m), as well as small draggers, seiners Groundfish - so-called because they generally feed and longliners. Trawlers, draggers and dwell near the bottom, the "ground" of the sea - and seiners use bag-like nets (trawls) "dragged" behind them to sweep make up about half of Atlantic Canada's total catch of the seabed waters. Longliners pay out lines of hooked gear. all saltwater species. The relatively shallow waters of Much groundfish fishing is also the continental shelf - that submerged shoulder of carried on by inshore boats using seabed separating the continental shore from the gear set near or from the shore. Small boats of the inshore fleet deep ocean - provide an ideal habitat for fish. Canada's use gillnets, trapnets, handlines and longlines to harvest their Atlantic shelf, especially its shallowest portions - the share of the catch. renowned Grand, Georges and other fishing banks - In relative order of economic impor- tance, the principal groundfish provides some of the richest pastures of the sea for species are cod, turbot, haddock, breeding and feeding aquatic life. small flatfishes ( e.g., plaice, floun- der), hake, redfish, pollock and arm waters of the northerly halibut. Other groundfish species flowing Gulf Stream that are fi.shed commercially include mingling with the frigid cusk, skate, dogfish and wolffish, W commonly called catfish. Labrador Current create condi- tions particularly conducive to sustaining large populations of Cod (Gadus morhua) cod, flatfish, haddock and other groundfish species. Despite the dramatic decline of the l 990s, cod remain the most Northwest Atlantic fishing banks important groundfish species are very large - the Grand Banks on the Atlantic coast as in the alone cover 280,000 square kilo- beginning of the fishery in the metres - and extend seaward as early 16th century. In the much as 500 kilometres from the Northwest Atlantic, cod range coast, although most lie within from western Greenland south to the 200-mile zone set by Canada Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. in 1977 as its exclusive fisheries In each of the various regions of management area. Atlantic Canada, there can be one 3 fish species, haddock were once more abundant along Canada's east coast. Intensive fishing in the l 960s, however, greatly reduced the stocks. In the l 990s, most of the remaining fishery was located on the Scotian Shelf, the Bay of Co d Fundy and the Gulf of Maine. Haddock range from the Strait of or more identifiable cod popula- shallower waters in seasonal cycles Belle Isle to Cape Cod. In Cana- tion. There are at least a dozen thought to be triggered by tem- dian waters, they occur mainly on separate stocks, each with its own perature, food and spawning the continental shelf from the Bay set of distinctive traits. behaviour. of Fundy to the east coast of Cape The most notable characteristics While they are caught close to the Breton, and eastward to the Grand of cod are their heavy body with shoreline along the entire Canadian Banks, most commonly in depths three dorsal and two anal fins, an coast, the most productive fishing of 45 to 240 m. almost square tail and the pale areas are the offshore banks. Haddock are dark purple-gray on lateral line running along each Cod are harvested with longlines, the head and back. The lateral side of the body from the head trawls, seines, handlines, jiggers, line is black, and below it the to the tail. The large head has a traps and gillnets. colour lightens to silver-gray with protruding upper jaw and there a slight pink cast. A distinguishing is a prominent, fleshy 'whisker' Cod are sold fresh, salted or mark is the large, black, thumb- or barbel under the lower jaw. smoked. The bulk of the catch print spot appearingjust above goes into the production of frozen Cod vary in colour from shades each pectoral fin. Fish in the com- fillets and frozen fillet blocks used of gray, green, brown or red mercial catch are usually between in the production of fish sticks depending on the habitat and, 0.9 to 4 kilograms in weight. and fish portions. over a period of time, are capable Haddock are caught with otter of changing colour to match their trawls but other gear such as long- surroundings. The back and sides lines and gillnets are also used. are specked with many brownish to reddish spots. ' Haddock (Melanogrammus These fish are marketed as fresh and frozen fillets. Smaller quanti- Cod feed voraciously on almost all aeglefinus) ties are sold as fresh and frozen types of sea life. The young feed whole fish and as headless split upon small planktonic animals, Haddock, long familiar to fisher- and smoked fish (finnan haddies). small worms and tiny shrimp-like men on both sides of the Atlantic animals. As they grow older, they Ocean, belong to the same family consume quantities of small crus- as cod and pollock. Among the taceans and molluscs as well as most popular of the north Atlantic capelin, herring and sand lance. Cod taken in the commercial Haddock fishery are mostly between 45 and 80 cm and weigh between 0.8 and 4 kg; however, cod can grow to exceed 20 kg. Although they usually stay close to the sea bottom, cod may be found anywhere from the surface to depths ofwell over 500 m . Cod move in schools from deeper to ( A T LA NTIC GROUNDFISH 4 dark gray with silver underparts. When freshly taken from the water, they are silvery iridescent, but the bright colour soon fades. Fish in the catch range from 20 to 30 cm in length and weigh between 0.1 and 0.3 kg. Occurring from the Grand Banks to South Carolina, silver hake are mainly found on Georges Bank and on the Nova Scotia Banks, Po llock particularly on Browns Bank and the Sable Island Banks in depths of 55 to 275 m . Silver hake are Pollock White Hake generally found in the warmer (Pollach ;us virens) (Urophycis tenu ;s) waters of the Canadian Atlantic (7 to 10° C). Pollock are also members of the White hake are somewhat cod-like cod family. For years, these spirited, but have only two, rather than Formerly under-utilized in the saltwater fish were unappreciated three, dorsal fins, and only one Canadian fisheries and harvested except by sport fishermen. Now, anal fin. The colour varies consi- mainly by fleets of other nations, they are eagerly sought as a com- derably, with the back usually silver hake were fished almost mercial species in their own right. reddish to muddy brown and the exclusively by Canadians using belly pale gray, yellowish or white. otter trawls in the late l 990s. Pollock range from southern They are normally 40 to 100 cm Labrador to Cape Cod, but are long and are taken by otter trawls, fished primarily in coastal waters gillnets, longlines and handlines in and on the offshore banks of the the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Redfish (Ocean Perch) Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and and along the eastern Scotian Gulf of Maine. (Se bastes sp.) Shelf and western Grand Banks. There are three species of redfish Deep-bodied with three dorsal that are fished commercially in and two anal fins, pollock differ the Canadian Atlantic but they from cod and haddock by having are so similar that it is not possible a pointed snout and projecting Silver Hake to distinguish them easily. Redfish lower jaw. The back is brownish- (Merlucôus bilinearis) are also commonly known as green, paling to a yellowish ocean perch or rosefish and smoky-gray or green on the sides, Silver hake are members of the became commercially important and the belly is silver-gray. The cod family, but are more slender in North America around 1935 lateral line, like that of cod, is and have two dorsal fins. They are pale, but there are no spots. Fish in the commercial catch range are usually from 1 to 4 kg in weight. White Hake Pollock are principally caught with otter trawls, although other types of gear such as longlines, handlines and gillnets are also used. Pollock are marketed as Boston bluefish frozen fi llets or frozen breaded items such as portions and sticks. 5 American Plaice (Hippoglossoides platesso;des) The most common of the four small flatfish species, plaice are also the most important from a commercial standpoint. They range from southern Labrador Silver Hake and the Grand Banks to Rhode Island in the United States. Plaice are reddish to grayish-brown on the eyed side of the body, and white or bluish-white on the blind left side. They have a large mouth, an almost straight lateral line. The bulk of the catch is made up of plaice ranging from 31 to 45 cm in length and 0.3 to 1 kg in weight.