|
|
Haddock & Whiting
( Melanogrammus aeglefinus & Merlangius merlangius )
Pictures and text by Rudolf Svensen
|
Norway Haddock |
Whiting eats a Sand-eel |
Both Haddock and
Whiting belong to the Cod family. In the fjords on the
West Coast of Norway, small specimen is regular spotted
on shallow water during the winter months.
As a diver, have I seen fishes of both species swimming
together in large schools.
They are both predators, and hunt for smaller fishes,
shrimps and other small crustacian.
The Haddock may grow to a larger size than the whiting.
It can reach a weight of 19 kilos and a length of 110
cm. The Whiting seldom grow larger than 3 kilos.
Both fishes are highly priced as human food, and
Norwegian fishermen are doing an intensely commercial
fishery on both species.
Another mutual feature within these to fishes, are that
the juvenile fishes hide among the tentacles of stinging
jellyfishes like the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish ( Cyanea
capillata ). The poison do not hurt the juveniles, but
keeps predators away.
If a diver approach, the small fishes will seek against
the centre of the jellyfish where the protection is
best.
|
|
