Traceable Species
Atlantic Halibut
Female halibut begin to spawn between 10 and 14 years of age. Each fish can lay up to several million pink eggs during the spawning season between December and June. The eggs float freely for about 16 days, after which they hatch into larvae with a large yolk sac. By four or five weeks, the larvae develop into juveniles and begin to feed on plankton. They grow rapidly, about three inches (7 to 8 cm) each year, until they reach sexual maturity and adopt a bottom-dwelling life. Atlantic halibut can live up to 50 years, but their typical lifespan is about 25 to 30 years.
Food Info Atlantic Halibut
TASTING NOTES
- Colour: very white
- Texture: large flakes, a firm but tender texture and very lean
- Flavour: fairly mild with a distinctive sweetness
- Perfect serve: Its thick, succulent meat holds together perfectly when battered for traditional fish and chips, while its distinctive sweet flavour holds its own against the richness of this dish.
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Source: Fishbase.org
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Hirame (sushi) |
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Atlantic halibut is one of the largest bottom-dwelling flatfish in the world, weighing up to 700 pounds (320 kg). They primarily live in northern cold waters, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Barents Sea to as far south as the Bay of Biscay. Seldom entering waters of less than 200 feet (60 m) deep, halibut have a blotchy olive and brownish colour that disguises it when nestled into the sandy seafloor.
Atlantic halibut are flat and diamond-shaped with a white underbelly and both eyes on its upper side. It is a firm-textured fish and has relatively few bones, making it a popular catch. Atlantic halibut are larger but have a similar flavour to its Pacific cousin (Hippoglossus stenolepis).
Fishing Methods
![{'fisheries': [<License: Atlantic Halibut by Longline (NAFO 3Pn)>, <License: Atlantic Halibut by Longline (NAFO 3Ps)>, <License: Atlantic Halibut by Longline (NAFO 4R)>], 'gear': <Gear: Small-Boat Longline with Hooks>}](/media/cache/3f/f2/3ff247c773b4b6c06f44a6a54c07a368.jpg)
Small-Boat Longline with Hooks
This fishery uses a bottom longline that is baited with hooks and anchored to the ocean floor. A longline can be from 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 5 km) long and have up to 2,000 hooks.
![{'fisheries': [<License: Atlantic Halibut by Longline (Quebec)>, <License: Atlantic Halibut by Longline (Scotia / Fundy)>, <License: Incidental Catch by Hook & Line>], 'gear': <Gear: Bottom Longline with Hooks>}](/media/cache/23/a9/23a994c867da6c980ce141edc21b64ec.jpg)
Bottom Longline with Hooks
This fishery uses a bottom longline that is baited with hooks and anchored to the ocean floor. A longline can be from 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 5 km) long and have up to 2,000 hooks.
![{'fisheries': [<License: Atlantic Halibut by Bottom Trawl>], 'gear': <Gear: Bottom Trawl>}](/media/cache/d5/7a/d57a3ce3aa6b25ab4547eaa19403f935.jpg)
Bottom Trawl
This fishery uses a large cone-shaped net that is dragged along the seafloor to catch fish. As the net is towed at low speed, hydrodynamic forces push two "otter boards" outwards opening the mouth of the net and capturing fish in its path.
Featured Harvester Bernie Berry
Mangrove Crab Harvester
Canavieiras, Brazil
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