The squid Todarodes sagittatus (Lamarck) distribution and biology in northern waters August 1982 - June 1983

In 1982 the squid Todarodes sagittatus invaded the Norwegian coast in somewhat less abundance than in 1981.Materials for investigation were collected from July 1982 to June 1983.In coastal areas of North Norway the mean dorsal mantle length (DML) of the females increased from about 28 cm in August to 35-36 cm in October-Novem ber.At the west coast the mean DML length increased from 27 cm to near 33 cm from September to December, 35-36 cm in January-Febr uary, and 40 cm in June.In July-Septemb er 1982 a few females, average DML 46-47 cm, were taken in fjords in North Norway.In March-April 1983 !• sagittatus in North Atlantic waters had a very extended length distribution , 21-47 cm, without any distinct maximum.Males measured on an average 1.5 -4.0 cm below those of the females, but DML's up \.to 42 cm were observed.The percentage of males• was always low in the jig samples, maximum 18.2%, while in trawl samples they were more frequent, up to 46%.Nearly all males taken during -2 -August-February were irrunature .. Males with DMI1 28 cm or more taken in the North Atlantic in April, were all mature or maturing.Females with DML 42-51 cm taken in fjords of North Norway in July-September, were mostly in stages 3-4, one with eggs in the oviduct.In all areas investigated, smaller females taken during the period August-April were all in stage I, in June in stage 2.Primary growth rings were counted in statoliths and assumed to represent daily growth.On a few occasions the number of days between successive samples also corresponded with the difference in the average number of growth rings.Squid taken in the area investigated during August-Novembe r seem to have been hatched mainly in November-Janua ry, those from December-Febru ary in March-April, those from June in July-August.The average age was 9-11 months.Some squid, taken in September, were nearly one year old.Liver weight constituted 1-25% of total weight, the mean in coastal waters decreasing from 9.5% in November to 4.5% in February.The maximal liver weight, 10-12%, was observed in squid from the Farces in August and in large females in Norwegian fjords in July-September.Tagging experiments were unsuccessful.From about 800 squid tagged, only one tag was recovered near the tagging locality after about two months in liberty.In 1982 the Norwegian fishery yielded about 17 000 m.tons of squid ..