Spatial Distribution of Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum

Spatial distribution of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum)) in the eastern Labrador-Newfoundland area was examined using catch data from research vessel surveys directed either towards groundfish generally or Greenland halibut in par-ticular to a maximum depth of 1 500 m. Results indicated that for Div. 2GH there was no apparent change in the spatial distribution of Greenland halibut between the late-1970s and late-1980s even though overall abundance of fish was significantly lower in the late-1980s compared to the late-1970s. For Div. 2J and 3K the spatial distribution pattern was about the same between the late-1970s and late-1980s at which time Greenland halibut rapidly disappeared from Div. 2J, followed by Div. 3K within a couple of years. It is con-cluded that this was a result of a significant migration southward of Greenland halibut to the deep waters of Flemish Pass in Div. 3LM. This was indicated by the occurrence of large quantities of Greenland halibut in the Flemish Pass during the deepwater survey of 1991