Latin name

Trisopterus esmarkii

Other name

Gadus esmarkii

Identification

The body of the Norway pout is elongated, oval in shape, tapering to the caudal peduncle, and covered with cycloid scales. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper. The eyes are large, their diameter equal to the length of the snout and 32-34% of the length of the head. The chin strap is small. The head has lateral line pores.

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. 

Three dorsal fins of these fish, with small spaces between the bases. Two anal fins with their bases joined together. The beginning of the first anal fin is on the line of the end of the first dorsal fin. The base of the first anal fin is long, twice as long as the base of the first dorsal fin. The ends of the pectoral fins extend beyond the beginning of the first anal fin. The pelvic fins have elongated rays. The caudal fin has a small notch.

Fish colouring

Upper body and head are grayish brown, sides are silver, belly is white. There is a dark spot on the upper part of the pectoral fin bases. The lateral line is dark, continuous, and extends from the head to the caudal peduncle with a slight bend near the center of the first dorsal fin.

Distribution

This species is found in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent areas of the Arctic Ocean. The southern limit of its range is the Bay of Biscay. Further north it is found near the British Isles, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, in the North Sea and along the coast of Scandinavia. In the southwestern part of the Barents Sea they have been found near Medvezhy Island and the Svalbard Archipelago.

Habitat

Oceanodromous benthopelagic and pelagic fishes. They live on the continental shelf, both near the bottom on muddy substrates and in the pelagial at depths from 50 to 400 m, mostly 100-200 m, at temperatures from 0.6 to 6.5 °C.

Size

Maximum body length of fish of this species is 35 cm, usually about 20 cm. Maximum depth of the fish is less than the length of the head. Maximum lifespan is 5 years.

Behavior

Norway pout migrate between the Shetland Islands and Norway to spawn and leave the Skagerrak. 

Food and feeding habits

They feed in the water column on planktonic crustaceans (copepods, amphipods, shrimps, euphausiids) as well as small fish, eggs and larvae.

Reproduction

Egg-laying, both sexes separate. Matures at two to three years with a body length of 14-20 cm. The main spawning areas are off the coasts of Scotland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The spawning season lasts from January to July with a peak from March to May. Fecundity varies from 27,000 to 384,000 eggs. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Eggs are small, 1-1.3 mm in diameter, without a fat droplet. The length of the larvae at hatching is 3.0-3.2 mm. These fish are characterized by fairly rapid growth, yearlings reach a length of 13 cm, and two-year-olds - 19 cm.

Fishing

It is a valuable commercial fish. Denmark, Norway and the autonomous region of the Faroe Islands catch most of it.

Relationship with a person

Harmless. Fished mainly for processing into fishmeal.