Notes on the distribution and length composition of Raja lintea, R-fyllae,R-hyperborea and Bathyraja spinicauda (Pisces : Rajidae) in the deep northeastern North Sea and on the slope of the eastern Norwegian Sea
Je. Skjaeraasen et Oa. Bergstad, Notes on the distribution and length composition of Raja lintea, R-fyllae,R-hyperborea and Bathyraja spinicauda (Pisces : Rajidae) in the deep northeastern North Sea and on the slope of the eastern Norwegian Sea, ICES J MAR, 58(1), 2001, pp. 21-28
The distribution and length composition of Four skate species inhabiting de
ep shelf and upper slope waters of the Northeastern Atlantic are compared.
Raja lintea and Raja fyllae primarily inhabited the Norwegian Deep of the n
ortheastern North Sea, but also occurred in the upper slope waters of the e
astern Norwegian Sea, and they had species-specific but partially overlappi
ng distributions. Their areas of distribution were associated with relative
ly warm Atlantic water masses. In the deeper slope areas with colder Norweg
ian Sea Deep Water. Raja hyperborea was the only abundant skate, whilst Bat
hyraja spinicauda seemed associated with the frontal zone between the warm
and cold water masses on the upper slope.
The entire size range of Raja fyllae was found, but mainly large Raja linte
a. The catches of Raja hyperborea consisted of mostly large individuals, wh
ereas the Bathyraja spinicauda were small, immature specimens.