Publication Abstract

An invasion of the North Sea byblue-mouth, Helicolanus dactylopterus

H.J.L. Heessen, J.R.G. Hislop and T.W. Boon

Blue-mouth(Helicolenus dactylopterus) is one of four species of the Scorpaenidae which may becaught in the North Sea. It is known as a typical deep water fish which lives along theshelf edge. Reports from the North Sea have been rare. An invasion of blue-mouth in thenorthern North Sea that took place in the winter 1990/91 is described. Blue-mouth havespread over a considerable area since and, recently, catches were even reported from thesouthern North Sea. Length distributions are given as well as age/length information fromfish collected in the North Sea and at Rockall.

Reference:

H.J.L. Heessen, J.R.G. Hislop and T.W. Boon, 1996. An invasion of the North Sea byblue-mouth, Helicolanus dactylopterus. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 53(5) 874-877.