FLATFISHES OF NORWEGIAN COASTS AND FJORDS

Bottom trawl surveys in North Norwegian fjords and coastal areas, on a South Norwegian coastal bank, and along the Russian Kola coast, are u sed to describe distribution, species composition, individual growth, population structure, and exploitation of plaice (Pleuronectes platess a), long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides), witch (Glyptocephal us cynoglossus), lemon sole (Microstomus kitt), dab (Limanda limanda), megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis), halibut (Hippoglossus hippogloss us) and Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). Based on dis tribution and abundance, individual species have been grouped as north ern; southern or intermediate, as shallow or deep, and as associated w ith fjords or with coastal banks. The four most abundant flatfishes in Norwegian coastal zones, plaice, long rough dab, witch, and lemon sol e, were equally or more abundant in the north compared to the south. S pecimens of these species were generally larger in the north and mean length at age tended to be lower. Possible nursery areas were indicate d for plaice and lemon sole. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.