Abundance and distribution of finfish and squid from E.E. Prince trawl surveys in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1970-79 / by P.A. Koeller and M. LeGresley.: Fs97-6/1028E-PDF

The abundance and distribution of finfish and squid as determined by 10 yr of random, stratified groundtrawl surveys in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence are presented. A large increase in the abundance of cod and American plaice was the most important observed trend during the decade. These species dominate the groundfish community of the Gulf and accounted for 68% of the biomass estimates on the average. Three groups of fish were identified which occupy geographically different and hydrologically distinct areas. A small group of species is widely distributed, probably because they tolerate the extremely cold water that covers much of the area in September. A second group is found in the warm inshore areas. Most species in this group have a separate, apparently isolated population around the Magdalen Islands. The third group occupies the deeper, moderately warm water along the edge of the Laurentian Channel and is probably found in the unsampled areas of the channel's plain. Many species in this group concentrate at the northwestern and southeastern end of the channel area. Those to the southeast may be extensions of populations found along the northeastern edge of the Scotian Shelf.

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