Report on the joint Icelandic / Norwegian survey on oceanic redfish in the Irminger Sea and adjacent waters, in june/july 1994

An acoustic survey on oceanic redfish (oceanic Sebastes mentella) in the Irminger Sea, in June/July 1994 was carried out by Iceland and Norway. Approximately 190 000 n.m. ^2 were covered. The stock size in the area surveyed was assessed to be about 2.2 million tonnes or 3.5 million individuals. Only depths shallower than 500 meters were included. The oceanic redfish concentrations were densest in the 100-250 m depth layer, mainly within a temperature range of 3° to 4°C. Males were in majority in all areas (55-61 %). The average length of oceanic S. mentella was 36,7 cm, and the average weight 640 g. Females were on the average larger and heavier than males. The percentage of fish with external abnormalities (i.e. Sphyrion lumpi and spots) was much higher for females than for males. The average was 43.5% and the average for fish with abnormal muscular pigmentation, 47.1 %, resp. The maturity stages and the stomach contents were recorded