The use of information on parameters of the life cycle in the management of fisheries in the Irminger Sea

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Deficient knowledge of biology, ecology and population structure of Sebastes mentella (Travin, 1951) has long been the cause of heated discussions among scientists and managers regarding the number of its stocks in the Irminger Sea exploited in the midwater and demersal fisheries. The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission manages the S. mentella fisheries on the basis of management units. In the Irminger Sea two management units were distinguished: “pelagic” and “deep-sea”. Classification into management units reflected stages of fisheries development. Scientific grounds for such management option seem to be insufficient because it is not known reliably how much it is correct in view of S. mentella biology, ecology and population structure. The purpose of the present paper is identification of S. mentella stock in the Irminger Sea based on the research into the main parameters of its life cycle. Peculiarities of reproduction, maturity and growth of S. mentella in the pelagic waters and on the slopes, as well as recruitment to the two currently used management units were analyzed.