Norway Pout

Norway pout belongs to the cod family and lives in schools. It is commonly found in the northern North Sea. It is rare to find it along the Dutch coast. This species likes to swim close to the bottom. Other fish species such as mackerel, coal fish, whiting, haddock and cod love to eat Norway pout. All together, these species consume an estimated 1.3 million tons of Norway pout in the North Sea per year. The Norwegian and Danish industrial fleet used to fish Norway pout on a large scale, however interest in this fish species decreased in the mid 1980s. Norway pout is still used as food for fish farms and cattle.

The catch reported for 1987 in the FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics was 208 864 t, down from 428 374 t in 1979. Major exploiting countries are Denmark (ca.119 000 t), Norway (ca. 81 000 t) and the Faeroe Islands (ca.10 000 t), using bottom trawls and Danish seines. The major fishing grounds are the northern North Sea and Skagerrak and to a lesser extent, the Norwegian More coast, between 100 and 250 m depth. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 112 556 t. The countries with the largest catches were Denmark (57 441 t) and Norway (51 067 t). Used mainly for fish meal and oil.

Lower jaw slightly longer than upper. Greatest body depth less than head length. Colour: grey-brown dorsally, sides silvery belly white; a dark blotch at upper edge of pectoral base.

Southwest Barents Sea, sometimes at Bear Island, south to the English Channel, around Iceland, and at the Faeroe Islands.

An exceptional specimen reached 35 cm; however, less than 20 cm is the more ordinary size.

Benthopelagic to pelagic over muddy bottomsat depths of 50-300 m, but mostly found between 100 and 200 m. First maturity is reached at 2 years (l4 to 15 cm) and sex ratio of adults in the North Sea is 93 males: 57 females. A 15 to 19 cm fish lays 27 000 to 51 200 eggs; the spawning period extends from January to July (mostly from March to May). Migrates for spawning between the Shetland Islands and Norway and out of the Skagerrak, the mayor spawning grounds being located between NW Scotland, Norway, Faeroe Islands and Iceland. Growth is rapid: at 1 year,13 cm; 2 years,19 cm; 3 years, 21 cm; maximun age is 4 to 5 years.It is a pelagic feeder, mostly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, euphausids, shrimps, amphipods) but also on small fish and various eggs and larvae.

Gray-brown dorsally, silvery on sides, white on belly. A dark blotch is at the upper edge of the pectoral-fin base.

Oviparous, sexes are separate (Ref. 205). Migrates for spawning between the Shetland Islands and Norway and out of the Skagerrak. Major spawning grounds are Northwestern Scotland, Norway, Faeroe Islands and Iceland.

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Analspines: 0

Benthopelagic to pelagic over muddy bottoms. Occurs mostly between 100-200 m (Ref. 1371). Feeds mostly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, euphausiids, shrimps, amphipods) but also on small fish and various eggs and larvae (Ref. 1371).

Benthopelagic to pelagic over muddy bottoms. Mostly found between 100 and 200 m. Feeds mostly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, euphausiids, shrimps, amphipods) but also on small fish and various eggs and larvae (Ref. 1371). Caught mainly for reduction to fishmeal (Ref. 3383), trout pellets, fodder (Ref. 35388).

fisheries: highly commercial; price category: low; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species

Trisopterus esmarkii, the Norway pout, is a species of fish in the cod family. It is found in the Barents Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, off the coasts of Norway, Iceland, the British Isles and elsewhere in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It prefers depths between 100 and 200 m (330–660 ft), but occurs from 50 to 300 m (160–980 ft). Norway pout can reach 35 cm (14 in), but are more common at around 19 cm (7.5 in).

It is extensively fished, mostly for conversion into fishmeal, with 877,910 t taken in 1974, and only 39,223 t taken in 2008.

Feeds mostly on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, euphausiids, shrimps, amphipods) but also on small fish and various eggs and larvae

60.1°N 56.9°W

Benthopelagic to pelagic over muddy bottoms. mostly found between 100 and 200 m.

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