THE STRUCTURE AND TEMPORAL STABILITY OF THE FISH COMMUNITY ON A COASTAL BANK UTILIZED AS A SPAWNING GROUND BY HERRING

The structure of demersal fish assemblages was analysed on a coastal b ank used every year for 6-8 weeks as a spawning ground by spring-spawn ing herring. Both the species and size composition of the bank assembl ages seemed relatively stable throughout the 3-year period of the stud y, and the strongest variation in species composition occurred along t he depth gradient. Despite the strong temporary dominance of herring d uring the spawning period, neither inter-annual nor seasonal variation in species composition and distribution patterns attributable to the varying presence of herring was found.