Genetic structure of Blue Whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) from the North-East Atlantic

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Blue whiting is a pelagic, migratory, marine fish species of commercial importance. There has been increasing interest in this species over the last few years, both by fisheries managers as well as scientists. In 2003 a record catch of 2.3 million tonnes was caught in the Atlantic Ocean (Heino 2004). Despite this, scientists are predicting that collapse may be imminent unless pressure from fishing is decreased, and have appealed for international action on rational management of the species. The distribution extends from 26°N to 82°N along the continental shelf in the NE Atlantic with smaller populations in the NW Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (Bailey 1982) [Fig. 1]. The main spawning area is off the west coast of Ireland. Fish spawn here between March and April (Bailey 1982). A less intense spawning also occurs further south along the Porcupine Bank and into the Bay of Biscay beginning around mid February (Kloppmann et al. 2001), and into the Barents Sea around May. There are biological and oceanographic data suggesting heterogeneity in the spawning areas west of Scotland and Ireland. According to simulations of North Atlantic currents on the continental shelf blue whiting eggs and larvae deposited north of the Porcupine Bank should be carried northwards, while those deposited to the south should be carried further south (Skogen et al. 1999).