Diet of the common wolffish Anarhichas lupus in the North Sea

The diet of common wolffish Anarhichas lupus from the North Sea is describe d, from a total of 143 wolffish stomachs, of which 112 contained food. The main prey were crustaceans and molluscs, together representing almost 70% o f diet by relative frequency of occurrence in stomachs. Wolffish > 55 cm pr eferred polychaetes and gastropods while wolffish < 55 cm preferred sea urc hins and brittle stars. The occurrence of empty stomachs was significantly less in spring than in summer or in autumn/winter. Meal size was lowest in winter and highest in spring. These data reflect a period of low food intak e in winter during spawning and tooth replacement, followed by a recovery f eeding episode in spring.