Distribution and biological characteristics of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) at greenland based on the analysis of historical tag recoveries

In this study, we examined 5481 records of tag recoveries at Greenland from a new tagging database held by ICES that contains information on salmon tagged in Canada, France, Faroes, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales), and the United States from the early 1960s to the present. For 4806 of the tag recoveries, latitude and longitude information were available, describing, to varying degrees of accuracy, the location of recovery of tagged fish. Release and recovery dates were variable, but no significant differences over time were noted. The information derived from tag recoveries was used to describe the distribution and growth of salmon of different origins. The proportion of recoveries from East Greenland suggested that potential multi-sea-winter salmon from northern Europe have a more easterly distribution than those from southern Europe. The location of recovery of salmon of North American origin differed from that of European salmon along the west coast of Greenland. Tag recoveries by country were not uniformly distributed across the respective NAFO Divisions. Tags from salmon originating in Canada and the United States were more commonly recovered in northern locations than tags from European-origin salmon. Analysis of rates of tag recovery suggested similar rates before and after the introduction of the NASCO Tag Return Incentive Scheme. The straight-line migration speed of both North American and European salmon changed very little over the time-series, but was similar to 40% greater for North American salmon (0.43 m s(-1)) than for European salmon (0.29-0.32 m s(-1))

Distribution by origin and sea age of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in the sea around the faroe islands based on analysis of historical tag recoveries

A database of 2651 tags applied to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in 13 countries or jurisdictions and recovered in the Faroes longline salmon fishery from 1968 to 2000 was analysed for geographic distribution and origin of the salmon captured with respect to differences in sea age, season of the fishery, and hydrographic features in the Faroes area. The results indicated that salmon were not distributed randomly in the Faroes area by fishing season, sea age, or country of origin. The distribution of salmon in the Faroes zone partly depends on their geographic origin; salmon from countries in the northern European stock complex were distributed significantly farther northeast than those from countries in the southern European stock complex. Furthermore, the proportion of tag recoveries from southern European countries was higher in autumn, and the proportion recovered from northern European countries higher in winter. The apparent temporal and spatial segregation of stocks of different origin suggests that there may have been differential exploitation on these stocks, which provides information that could inform fishery management with regard to temporal and/or spatial fishery options for the Faroes commercial salmon fishery should it recommence in future

Distribution and biological characteristics of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) at greenland based on the analysis of historical tag recoveries

In this study, we examined 5481 records of tag recoveries at Greenland from a new tagging database held by ICES that contains information on salmon tagged in Canada, France, Faroes, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales), and the United States from the early 1960s to the present. For 4806 of the tag recoveries, latitude and longitude information were available, describing, to varying degrees of accuracy, the location of recovery of tagged fish. Release and recovery dates were variable, but no significant differences over time were noted. The information derived from tag recoveries was used to describe the distribution and growth of salmon of different origins. The proportion of recoveries from East Greenland suggested that potential multi-sea-winter salmon from northern Europe have a more easterly distribution than those from southern Europe. The location of recovery of salmon of North American origin differed from that of European salmon along the west coast of Greenland. Tag recoveries by country were not uniformly distributed across the respective NAFO Divisions. Tags from salmon originating in Canada and the United States were more commonly recovered in northern locations than tags from European-origin salmon. Analysis of rates of tag recovery suggested similar rates before and after the introduction of the NASCO Tag Return Incentive Scheme. The straight-line migration speed of both North American and European salmon changed very little over the time-series, but was similar to 40% greater for North American salmon (0.43 m s(-1)) than for European salmon (0.29-0.32 m s(-1))

Distribution by origin and sea age of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in the sea around the faroe islands based on analysis of historical tag recoveries

A database of 2651 tags applied to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in 13 countries or jurisdictions and recovered in the Faroes longline salmon fishery from 1968 to 2000 was analysed for geographic distribution and origin of the salmon captured with respect to differences in sea age, season of the fishery, and hydrographic features in the Faroes area. The results indicated that salmon were not distributed randomly in the Faroes area by fishing season, sea age, or country of origin. The distribution of salmon in the Faroes zone partly depends on their geographic origin; salmon from countries in the northern European stock complex were distributed significantly farther northeast than those from countries in the southern European stock complex. Furthermore, the proportion of tag recoveries from southern European countries was higher in autumn, and the proportion recovered from northern European countries higher in winter. The apparent temporal and spatial segregation of stocks of different origin suggests that there may have been differential exploitation on these stocks, which provides information that could inform fishery management with regard to temporal and/or spatial fishery options for the Faroes commercial salmon fishery should it recommence in future

A correction to "distribution and biological characteristics of atlantic salmon (salmo salar) at greenland based on the analysis of historical tag recoveries"

Reddin, D. G., Hansen, L. P., Bakkestuen, V., Russell, I., White, J., Potter, E. C. E., Dempson, J. B., Sheehan, T. F., O Maoilidigh, N., Smith, G. W., Isaksson, A., Jacobsen, J. A., Fowler, M., Mork, K. A., and Amiro, P. 2013. Distribution and biological characteristics of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at Greenland based on the analysis of historical tag recoveries. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 1589-1597