Maturation, reproduction and early life history of anglerfish Lophius piscatorius in Faroese waters: Búning, nøring og yngullívssøga hjá havtasku í føroyskum sjógvi

Maturation, reproduction and early life history of Lophius piscatorius was investigated in Faroese waters. Length at first maturity (L50) was 58 cm for males and 84 cm for females, corresponding to an age of about four years for males and seven years for females. The proportions of females and males were similar in fish less than 55 cm long, and were skewed towards more males in medium sized fish (55–75 cm). Females were predominant in the larger fish (> 85 cm). Observations of spawning males and females, egg ribbons and pelagic anglerfish larvae, suggest that the main spawning season is from February to April and the spawning area seems to be southwest of the Faroe Plateau and in the Faroe Bank area. The Faroe Plateau probably serves as a nursery ground for juvenile anglerfish. Morphological transformation from larvae to juveniles occurred when the fish were about 7–9 cm long and they settled to the bottom when they were about 11 cm long. Thus, all life stages, as well as nursery areas, spawning areas and feeding areas of anglerfish are found in Faroese waters, indicating a separate stock in the area.