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Research Document 1998/121

Plankton and Nekton of the Northeast Newfoundland shelf and Grand Banks in 1997

By E.L. Dalley and J.T. Anderson

Abstract

A comprehensive broad-scale survey of temperature, plankton, and nekton of the marine pelagic environment was carried out for the fourth consecutive year during late summer 1997. The study area covers inshore and offshore waters from southern Labrador to the southern Grand Banks. Spatial and annual (1994-97) effects accounted for significant variation in all 22 variables examined. Area differences were larger and generally associated with latitudinal or inshore/offshore clines. Mean surface temperatures during the 1997 survey ranked third behind those of 1994 and 1996, both of which were relatively warm. In 1997 the mean total zooplankton biomass and that of the smallest size fraction was significantly greater than that of the 3 previous. Total nekton was dominated by capelin and squid, and catch rate of Arctic cod decreased each year of the survey. Mean total nekton biomass was higher than in 1996 but not significantly different from any other year. Capelin catch rate (age 1-2) in 1997 was similar to that of 1996 and 1995, all three years ranking below 1994. The abundance of pelagic 0-group Atlantic cod increased slightly in 1997, reversing a trend of decreasing abundance in recent years. Species groups that occurred mainly on the Northeast Newfoundland Shelf were relatively abundant in 1997, whereas 2 species that occur mainly on the Grand Banks tended in be less abundant in 1997. The statistical results confirm numerically the visual observations from the contoured data and will form the basis to monitor changes in the marine pelagic environment in the Newfoundland Region in the future.

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