Long-term variability of the growth rate of Barents Sea plaice
Kuznetsova, E.N.; Bonderanko, M.V.; Poluektova, O.G. (2004). Long-term variability of the growth rate of Barents Sea plaice. J. Sea Res. 51(3-4): 329-332. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2003.09.002
In: Journal of Sea Research. Elsevier/Netherlands Institute for Sea Research: Amsterdam; Den Burg. ISSN 1385-1101; e-ISSN 1873-1414
Also appears in:
Geffen, A.J.; Nash, R.D.M.; van der Veer, H.W. (Ed.) (2004). Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Flatfish Ecology, Part II. Port Erin, Isle of Man, 3-7 November 2002. Journal of Sea Research, 51(3-4). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 167-338 pp., more
The significant changes in biological characteristics of Barents Sea plaice in the early 20th century are explained by effects of fishery on a population in its natural state. It is obvious that the stock was large before the beginning of the fishery. This resulted in maximal catches (up to 15000 t) in the first period of fishery. In the following period the stock was depleted, which negatively affected production of the fishery. Thus, it may be supposed that the observed changes in biological characteristics of Barents Sea plaice are associated with a density factor. The marked decrease in growth rate of young fish in 1944-1945 might also be explained by an increase in population density because during the World War II there was no plaice fishery in the Barents Sea. Possibly, the tendency toward faster maturation is associated with effects of the long-term exploitation changing the genetic structure of the population because fishery removes slowly maturing fish before their first spawning. This was shown for Barents Sea cod. An increase in the growth rate of Barents Sea plaice and faster maturation result in an increased reproductive potential of the population and ability to increase its abundance under the favourable conditions, or to compensate for the fish removed by fishery.
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