Entrainment of redfish (Sebastes spp.) larvae off the Scotian Shelf

Satellite images show large volumes of cold shelf water lying offshore of t he Scotian Shelf in the spring of 1991. The seaward boundary of the shelf w ater was highly convoluted and indicated that shelf water was being entrain ed offshore into the slope water region by warm-core Gulf Stream eddies. An interdisciplinary field study of this region in late April and May found r elatively high concentrations of redfish (Sebastes spp.) larvae in the entr ained shelf waters. 100 km offshore of the shelf. Historical data indicate that these larvae were most likely spawned along the edge of the Scotian Sh elf. Based on weight-at-length relationships, the larvae off the shelf were in poorer condition than those on the shelf. We suggest the larvae swept o ffshore eventually die, a result consistent with earlier studies that entra inment by Gulf Stream eddies negatively affects redfish recruitment. (C) 20 00 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.