The death of north sea fish during the winter of 1962/63, particularly with reference to the sole,Solea vulgaris

Kurzfassung

Während des kalten Winters 1962/63 kam es zu Fischsterben in weiten Bereichen der südlichen Nordsee. Es wird über das Ausmaß dieses Sterbens, die betroffenen Areale und die geschädigten Arten berichtet und die gefundenen Daten zur Meerestemperatur in Beziehung gesetzt. Die Sterberate war geringer als während des harten Winters 1946/47, aber wohl ähnlich wie die im Winter 1928/29. Das betroffene Areal war 1963 größer als in den früheren Jahren. Viele Fische sind offenbar direkt durch die Kälte getötet worden. Dieser Umstand wird unter Berücksichtigung der Physiologie der betroffenen Arten diskutiert. Zweifellos wurden viele Fische auch durch bakterielle Hautinfektion getötet.

Summary

1. During the cold winter of 1962/63 fish mortalities were frequently reported over much of the North Sea to the south of the Dogger Bank. The sole populations certainly suffered the highest mortalities, but dead cod, plaice, whiting, dabs, turbot, brill and conger eel were also reported.

2. Fish began to die towards the end of February, and the numbers increased to a maximum in mid-March, after which they gradually decreased until reports ceased by mid-April. The development of mortalities was compared with the sea temperatures at the time.

3. The mortalities were on a large scale but not as great as previously reported for the cold winter of 1946/47; they may have been as heavy as those in 1928/29. Their distribution was more widespread than in either 1929 or 1947.

4. Analysis of fish blood serum showed abnormally high sodium levels in many fish caught in the colder waters. In some individuals the salt content appeared to approach lethal levels, but it was not known whether salt imbalance was the primary cause of death.

5. Flatfish were also attacked by a skin infection which certainly contributed to the deaths of many of these fish during the cold period.