Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Haddock
|
Haddock, a member of the codfish family are found offshore from 40 to 300 m. Adults are predominantly demersal but young are pelagic for the first year. Distribution within the study area ranges from Portugal north to Iceland, Spitzbergen and the Barents Sea. Haddock are a shoaling species with both spawning and feeding migrations. Spawning takes place between February and June in waters of 100 to 150 m (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
Characteristic features of haddock include a pointed, triangular first dorsal fin and black 'thumbprint' mark behind the pectoral fin and below the distinctive black lateral line. Colour is generally a dark greeny brown dorsal surface with lighter lateral and white ventral sides. They generally grow from 50 to 75 cm and occasionally to 112 cm (Whitehead et al., 1986a).
During the present survey, haddock were infrequently observed swimming over the seabed or coral debris zones of the Sula, Kosterfjord Säcken and Trondheim reefs. They did not appear to be disturbed by the presence of the camera.
Haddock are an important commercial species (Lythgoe and Lythgoe, 1991).
There is more information available for this species in FishBase.
Prepared by: Ecological Consultancy Services Ltd www.ecoserve.ie