Pan-Arctic suitable habitat model for Greenland halibut

Abstract

Deep-sea marine fishes support important fisheries but estimates of their distributions are often incomplete as the data behind them may reflect fishing practices, access rights, or political boundaries, rather than actual geographic distributions. We use a simple suitable habitat model based on bottom depth, temperature, and salinity to estimate the potential distribution of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). A large presence-only dataset is examined using multivariate kernel densities to define environmental envelopes, which we link to spatial distribution using a pan-Arctic oceanographic model. Occurrences generally fit the model well, although there were gaps in the predicted circum-Arctic distribution likely due to limited survey activity in many of the ice-covered seas around the Arctic Ocean. Bottom temperature and depth were major factors defining model fit to observations, but other factors, such as ecosystem interactions and larval drift could also influence distribution. Model predictions can be tested by increasing sampling effort in poorly explored regions and by studying the connectivity of putative populations. While abundances of Greenland halibut in the High Arctic are currently low, some areas are predicted to be suitable habitat for this species, suggesting that on-going sea-ice melt may lead to fisheries expansion into new areas.

A cold-water fish striving in a warming ocean: Insights from whole-genome sequencing of the Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic

“…Greenland Halibut, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum, 1792), is a highly-migratory (Vihtakari et al, 2022), cold-water, long-lived, slow-growing, and economically valuable groundfish (DFO, 2021) with a circumpolar distribution throughout the Northern Hemisphere (Vihtakari et al, 2021). It supports several commercial fisheries throughout the Arctic and the North Atlantic oceans as well as in the Estuary and Gulf of Saint Lawrence (EGSL), Canada (Bowering and Brodie, 1995;Bowering and Nedreaas, 2000;Treble et al, 2008;Delaney et al, 2012).…”

Using multivariate autoregressive state‐space models to examine stock structure of Greenland halibut in the North Atlantic

“…Greenland halibut ( Reinhardtius hippoglossoides , Walhaum, 1792; also known as Greenland turbot or black halibut) is a large flatfish distributed primarily in arcto‐boreal cold and deep waters, with continuous populations along continental slopes of the North Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans (Hedges et al, 2017; Vihtakari et al, 2021). The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism with females growing larger (~120 cm vs. 70 cm), older (>30 years vs. >20 years; Treble et al, 2008), and maturing later (L/A50 61 cm/15 years vs. 44 cm/8 years; Morgan et al, 2003; Yan et al, 2022) than males (estimates from the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) database).…”

“…Mark–recapture studies have shown that Greenland halibut can be a highly migratory species (Albert & Vollen, 2015; Boje, 2002; Vihtakari et al, 2022). The species inhabit depths of 50–2000 m and temperatures between −2 and 8°C (Bowering & Nedreaas, 2000; Vihtakari et al, 2021).…”

“…Currently, the Greenland halibut fishery in the North Atlantic is managed as four discrete offshore stocks (Figure 1): (1) Northeast Arctic Stock (NEAS) around the Barents Sea; (2) West Nordic Stock (WNS) in Southeast Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands waters; (3) Northwest Atlantic Stock (NWAS) in Baffin Bay and Davis Strait; and (4) eastern Canadian Stock along the Newfoundland and Labrador coast, as well as Grand Banks and Flemish Cap. Tagging studies suggest a connection between the NEAS and WNS and a possible connection between the NWAS and Southeast Greenland (Albert & Vollen, 2015; Vihtakari et al, 2021; see further discussion below). Our research team had easy access to survey data from the NEAS, WNS, and NWAS; therefore, we have chosen to focus our analysis on these three stocks.…”

“…Currently, the Greenland halibut fishery in the North Atlantic is managed as four discrete offshore stocks (Figure 1 Labrador coast, as well as Grand Banks and Flemish Cap. Tagging studies suggest a connection between the NEAS and WNS and a possible connection between the NWAS and Southeast Greenland (Albert & Vollen, 2015;Vihtakari et al, 2021; see further discussion below). Our research team had easy access to survey data from the NEAS, WNS, and NWAS; therefore, we have chosen to focus our analysis on these three stocks.…”