This competence includes the collection of biological data, including length, weight and maturation; data on stock sizes, distribution and migration based on acoustic methods and bottom-trawling; assessment of stock condition; single- and multi-species modelling of stock development; and the provision of management advice. The Demersal Fish Research Group comprises of 14 scientists and 10 technicians, and has two people assigned as 20% positions “forskningssjef-II” (from University of Bergen and Oslo). One member of the group is based in Oslo, while the remainder are at Nordnes in Bergen. The daily work is mainly organised into three groupings of co-workers, but there are clear overlap between the tasks: 1) stock assessment for the Barents Sea, 3) stock assessment of the North Sea and 3) obtaining age and other information from of “ear stones” (otoliths). There is newly build an otolith lab, which is available for use by other Research Groups as well. The group is also heavily involved in international collaboration through ICES, the EU, and elsewhere.
- Coastal cod north of 62°N
- North-east Arctic cod
- North Sea cod and cod in Skagerrak and the eastern English channel
- North-east Arctic haddock
- North Sea haddock and haddock in Skagerrak and Kattegat
- North-east Arctic saithe
- North Sea saithe and saithe in Skagerrak and west of Scotland
- Whiting
- Norway pout
- Hake
The group supplies its research and technical expertise regarding demersal fish to the following research and advice giving programs:
- The Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean
- The North Sea
- Coastal Ecosystems
- Marine processes and human impacts
