Growth of the Baltic herring as a function of stock density and food resources

Abstract

A mathematical model has been used to describe growth of coastal herring caught in the Baltic Sea in the Subdivision 26 in 1984-1995. The ratio of food resources, represented by biomass of Mysis mixta, to stock density explained about 65-83% of growth variation. It is argued that the deteriorating food conditions for herring are one of the bsic causes of high decrease of herring weight-at-age.