Publication Abstract

Availability and accessibility of demersal fish to survey gears: new observatiuons of 'natural' behaviour obtained with electronic obtained with electronic data storage tags

Availability and accessibility of demersal fish to survey gears: new observatiuons of 'natural' behaviour obtained with electronic obtained with electronic data storage tags

G.P. Arnold, J.D. Metcalfe, B.H. Holford and A.A. Buckley

Behaviour affects sampling gear efficiency not only through vulnerability to capture once the fish are in the path of the gear but also through spatial distribution, which determines whether or not fish are also available and accessible to the gear. Vertical migration, in particular, has a major impact on spatial distribution and consistent patterns of behaviour have been identified in important demersal species, such as plaice, sole and cod. The Lowestoft Laboratory is currently undertaking a major research programme on this topic in the North Sea and adjacent areas and between December 1993 and February 1997 released 303 large female plaice tagged with electronic data storage tags. Forty six tags have been returned to date and tags are still being returned from the latest releases (Dec. 1996 to Feb. 1997). This paper summarises the results of the tagging programme and presents a description of the seasonal patterns of behaviour in the population based on a synthesis of the behaviour of individual fish. It also discusses practical uses of the data by, for example, estimating the probability of encounter with bottom trawls at different seasons of the year.

Reference:

G.P. Arnold, J.D. Metcalfe, B.H. Holford and A.A. Buckley, 1997. Availability and accessibility of demersal fish to survey gears: new observatiuons of 'natural' behaviour obtained with electronic obtained with electronic data storage tags. ICES Copenhagen, CM1997/W:11, 8pp + figs. tabs.

G.P. Arnold*, J.D. Metcalfe*, B.H. Holford and A.A. Buckley*

ICES Copenhagen, CM1997/W:11, 8pp + figs. tabs.