Observations sur la faune et les fonds de pêche de quelques secteurs de la manche et des mers nordiques

1. The Svinö bank, mostly made up of a shelf limited by the isobath 200 m, is located along the Norwegian coast, off the Stat cape and the Romsdael islands, between L. N. 62° and 63°15' approximately. It is limited to the north-west by some steep slopes, to the west by muddy bottoms with a gentler slope.2. The hydrological regime is mostly characterized by the contrast between costal waters, with a low salinity, and offshore waters, around the slopes of the bank, coming from the Atlantic Ocean. The Boreal regime (waters at 6~7°C,) observed all year long throughout the whole bank contrasts with the Arctic regime (water temperature lower than O°C) observed at depths lower than 600-800 m. An overall current directed to the northeast seems to run from the surface to the bottom in the area of the bank directed towards the open ocean.3. The bottom's nature and profile is favourable for dredging in the north-eastern part of the bank (sand). Rocky bottoms, giving way to muddy beds to the west, are frequent in the other parts where trawling can still be practiced. It will be uncertain on the north-western slopes and on the soft muddy bottoms that follow them.4. The benthic fauna is made up of an association of brachiopods and sea urchins Dorocidaris papillata Leske throughout the shelf limited by the isobath 200 m. Ophiuroids are common at depths greater than 200 m west of the shelf, while white corals (found in various places on the shelf and to the west) seem to abound on the slopes limiting the shelf to the north-west.5. The ichthyofauna includes species commonly found in the cold or temperate Atlantic waters: especially the pollock (Gadus virens L.) whose egg-laying concentrations are exploited in February-March by trawlers. On the contrary, at the beginning of winter, pollock concentrations, but also those of other species, do not seem large enough to attract trawlers in this relatively remote area.The deep part of the slopes can only be exploitable in exceptional circumstances because of the very low water temperature.