UNIS_AB-202_2024_FISH

Study Extent

The sampling stations were: IsK - Isfjorden, KB3 - Kongsfjorden, SEEP - outside Magdalenafjorden and MIZ - in the marginal ice zone northwest of Spitsbergen. IsK and KB3 are a part of a longterm monitoring program and are sampled every year on this expedition. The SEEP station has not been sampled before and is a methane seep location. The MIZ location is located in the marginal ice zone, and this year it was at about 80* north.

Sampling

The fish were collected using benthic and pelagic trawls, and the trawls were out for around 10-15 minutes. The fish was sorted and identified. Total weight was measured for each species found, and additionally weight and length were measured for 20 random individuals of the key species: capelin, atlantic herring, atlantic cod and polar cod. If there were fewer than 20 then all of the individuals were measured. The depth for the pelagic trawl was decided based on data from an echo sounder. It was chosen where the highest biomass reading in the water column was found. There was not done a pelagic trawl at the MIZ location due to ice concerns and time constraints.

Method steps

1. The benthic trawl was done and the fish was sorted and identified by students. Total weight for each species was measured, and the key species were subsampled. The pelagic trawl depth was decided based on echo sounder data. The fish was sorted and identified by students. Total weight for each species was measured, and the key species were subsampled.

Samples collected from multiple fjords on the west coast of Svabard and the marginal ice zone.