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Research Document 1997/83

Preliminary results on groundfish catches in the 1996 Calanus II survey of the Magdalen Islands

By R. Morin

Abstract

Groundfish catches were monitored during a trawling survey aboard the CSS Calanus II in shallow waters off the Magdalen Islands (southern Gulf of St. Lawrence) from September 6-10, 1996. A Nephrops trawl was towed at 24 fixed stations, with a replicate tow made at each station. The annual groundfish survey of the southern Gulf with the research vessel Alfred Needler was conducted concurrently to the Calanus II survey. Flatfish species (yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, windowpane) dominated catches in the Calanus II survey, appearing at all sampled stations. White hake appeared at 21 of the 24 sampled stations. Catches of yellowtail and winter flounder were more abundant on a unit area basis and were composed of smaller fish in the Calanus II survey than in the nearest stratum sampled by the Alfred Needler. The 1996 Needler survey did not capture white hake and windowpane in the nearby stratum. For species distributed in the shallow waters of the Magdalen Islands, an area not sampled by the annual groundfish survey, the Calanus II survey may provide additional information on local abundance and biological characteristics.

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