Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) on Flemish Cap (NAFO Division 3M) – Oceanography, Fishery and Biology

The purpose of this paper is to consolidate information presented to the Scientific Council of NAFO during 1993–95 on northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) on Flemish Cap. Also included are sections on oceanography of the area, general biology of the spe-cies and by-catch of fish in the commercial fishery for shrimp. Oceanographic data describe the habitat in relation to bathymetry, temperature, salin-ity and circulation. Shrimp distribution, determined from research surveys, commercial fishery data and stomach contents of cod (Gadus morhua), occurred within depths of 200– 600 m where temperatures and salinities were approximately 4.0 ° C and 34.0 PSU, respec-tively. An anticyclonic gyre over the centre of the Cap dominated the circulation, provid-ing a mechanism for the retention of shrimp larvae in the area. The bottom trawl fishery for shrimp, which began in 1993, increased rapidly through the participation of vessels from several nations. Catches decreased from about 28 000 tons in 1993 to 24 000 in 1994 but increased to 33 000 in 1995. Fishery regulations initially dealt with limiting by-catch, primarily redfish (Sebastes sp.), and concerns about discard mortality led to mandator