The seasonal cycle in feeding activity of Greenland halibut
shows a maximum in autumn in depths between 700 - 900 m. In deeper
waters no seasonality appears at all. A 24-hour cycle in feeding
activity is observed which is length related, with a daytime
(6-12 hour interval) maximum in smaller fish (<60 cm) and at
both sunset and night (18-24 hour and 0-6 hour intervals) in the
largest fish (<80 cm). The intermediate length class (60-80 cm)
shows a minimum in feeding activity in the afternoon (12-18 h) and
in general a maximum in the interval 6-12 h, but in this group
significant feeding activity occurs also at night.
Catch rates decrease in autumn and reach a maximum in winter.
In winter, increased catchs occurs mainly at night (0-6 h
interval) and are based mainly in the smallest length class
(<60 cm), which feeds least during this time interval. An inverse
relationship between feeding intensity and catch rates is been
observed
