Size composition of aggregations and recommended commercial size for common whelk Buccinum undatum (Neogastropoda) in the Barents Sea at the coast of West Murman

Abstract

Size composition of common whelk Buccinum undatum in its aggregations on sandy and stony grounds at the depth of 2–15 m is analyzed on the data of experimental fishing by scuba divers and traps in the Kislaya Guba and Ura Guba Bays in different seasons of 2004–2017. The size group with shell height > 60 mm was the most abundant (70 %) and formed 90 % of the total biomass. This group is recommended for fishery; the shell height of 60 mm is sug­gested as the minimal commercial size for common whelk in this area.

Keywords

• whelk
• buccinum undatum
• barents sea
• west murman
• size composition
• fishery
• minimum commercial size