SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF EELPOUT LYCODES BRASHNIKOVI (ZOARCIDAE) AT THE WESTERN COAST OF KAMCHATKA IN SUMMER SEASON

Abstract

Eelpout Lycodes brashnikovi is a common species of bottom ichthyofauna in the waters at West Kamchatka. It distributes through the whole surveyed area, with sporadic dense aggregations at the depths of 50–150 and 200–300 m. It is an eurythermic species. Adult fish with the length 36–45 cm prevail in its trawl catches (on average 59.3 %); its maximum length is 52 cm. Catches of other species from the family Zoarcidae are insignificant on the shelf of West Kamchatka in summer, so Lycodes brashnikovi is considered as the most numerous representative of this family in this season.