Publication Abstract

The species composition, and the production of sole (Solea solea) in a flatfish nursery ground on the North Wales coast, UK

S.I. Rogers

The epibenthic community on a sole nursery ground, North Wales, UK, was sampled by beam trawl between July and October 1991 and 1992. The abundance and biomass of all species was described, and the production and growth rate of the sole, Solea solea L., population was estimated. Twenty-three species of fish were caught on the nursery ground, and catches were dominated in terms of both biomass and catch density by 0-group dab, Limanda limanda L. and weever fish, Echiichthys vipera (Cuvier). Gobies of the Pomatoschistus complex, and 0-group solenette, Buglossidium luteum (Risso), were also abundant, but their contribution in terms of biomass was small because of their small body size. Catches of invertebrates were dominated by the starfish, Asterias rubens (L.), brown shrimp, Crangon crangon (L.), and swimming crab, Liocarcinus holsatus (L.), which together accounted for 99.5% of the total mean biomass in both years. Growth rates of 0-group sole were 0.54 mm/day in 1991 and 0.58 mm/day in 1992; greater than those recorded for other sole nursery populations and also for some fish maintained in experimental systems. The total production of each year class was comparable with values recorded for sole from other nurseries. There was no evidence that the growth of the nursery population was limited by the food supply, or that the observed biomass of sole had exceeded the critical standing crop, or carrying capacity, of the environment. Further conclusions regarding the effect of density on growth should be possible using a more precise method for measuring growth rate of wild fish.

Reference:

S.I. Rogers, 1994. The species composition, and the production of sole (Solea solea) in a flatfish nursery ground on the North Wales coast, UK. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, 25: 161-177.