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Changes in the spawning distribution and biomass of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in the western Atlantic Ocean over 4 decades
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2020
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Source: Fishery Bulletin, 118, 120-134
[PDF-1.47 MB]
Details:
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Journal Title:Fishery Bulletin
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Personal Author:
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NOAA Program & Office:
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Description:The Atlantic mackerel
(Scomber scombrus) has a wide distribution off North America that changes
substantially seasonally and interannually, challenging attempts to track
changes in stock size. We used egg collections to develop an index of spawning
stock biomass for the southern contingent of Atlantic mackerel that spawns
in U.S. waters. These results were combined with those from an egg survey of
the northern contingent that spawns
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada,
to develop the only available stockwide index. Egg production of Atlantic
mackerel in the western North Atlantic Ocean has dropped >90% from the
1980s to the 2010s. The contribution of
the southern contingent has generally
been around 5–10%, except for during
the late 1970s and early 1980s when it
was 30–40%. On the continental shelf of
the northeastern United States, there
has been a northeastward shift in the
distribution of eggs of Atlantic mackerel, with low levels of egg production
recently at the historically important
spawning location off southern New
England. Overall, the index of spawning stock biomass generated from surveys in the waters of the United States
and Canada provides a much needed
means of tracking fluctuations in the
biomass of this commercially valuable
migratory species.
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Source:Fishery Bulletin, 118, 120-134
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Rights Information:CC BY
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