Condition and feeding of American Plaice (<i>Hippoglossoides platessoides</i>) in the North Atlantic with emphasis on the Flemish Cap

Abstract

The seasonal, annual and geographical changes in the Relative Condition Factor (K r ) of a total of 24 410 individual American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides Fabricius) were analysed. These samples were collected in three areas of the North Atlantic (NAFO Division 3M and Div. 3LNO, and ICES Div. IIb) in commercial fishing and scientific surveys from 1992 to 2003. Condition presented significant variation in both sexes as far as area, season and year effects were concerned.