Blue whiting
Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) is one of the most abundant fish stocks in the semi-pelagic water masses of the northeast Atlantic. The species is most common at 100-600 m depth, but is also found close to the surface in connection with diurnal vertical migrations. In shallow water the species is found close to the bottom.
Blue whiting is a species of the cod family that is widespread and common in the northeast Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. Smaller stocks are also found in the northwest Atlantic.
Blue whiting in the northeast Atlantic is regarded as one management unit but consists of two main components, one northerly and one southerly with a rough separation line on the Porcupine Bank west of Ireland. Some Norwegian Fjords and the Barents Sea have local stock components, even if the relatively large amount…
