Remarks |
Juveniles are found in deep waters (<17cm) and move to coastal waters where they display an average length of (33 cm length). Longer individuals are found in nursery areas where they feed and grow then move to deeper areas to spawn (Ref. 56328). Found in shoals, in deep water in winter and more inshore in summer. Feed almost entirely on fish, in deep water blue whiting, in summer whiting, Norway pout, and herring (Ref. 4772). Small juveniles prey on small crustaceans (euphausiids, natantian decapods and mysids), while fish assume an increasing importance in the diet with increasing size of hake (Ref. 53691). Feeding intensity was significantly correlated with phytoplankton pigment concentrations (ppc) (Ref. 53691).
Cannibalism increases with age, notably in the northern part of the bay of Biscay and in Celtic Sea (Ref. 56328). |