RECRUITMENT OF THE BARENTS SEA PLAICE (PLEURONECTES-PLATESSA L)

To study recruitment of Barents Sea plaice, we used a series of annual data obtained during the 1972-1990 period on the abundance of eggs an d larvae and strength of year classes entering the fishery. We calcula ted annual values for population fecundity and survival. To show the m ost important factors determining plaice recruitment, a multifactorial regression analysis was used. Year-to-year variations in plaice recru itment were significantly correlated with fluctuations in population f ecundity and larval abundance. This suggests that year-class strength of Barents Sea plaice is determined before the end of the pelagic phas e.