|
LING (Molva molva)
The Ling can reach a very large size, the largest on records was 212 cm long. It occurs all around the country but is very rare in the colder waters north and east of Iceland. It is found over a wide depth range, spanning from 15 to 1000 m depth. Usually the younger fish are in shallower waters. It is found in European waters from northern Norway to the Mediterranean Sea. It also occurs around the Faroe Islands, and has been reported off southern Greenlandic waters and on the Grand Banks off Canada.
The ling has a large mouth with sharp teeth, a classic predator on other fishes. It mostly eats herring, flatfishes, and other codfishes. It can also eat benthic invertebrates. Spawning takes place along the continental shelf break off south and west Iceland, in May and June. It reaches sexual maturity at the age of 5 to 8 years when it has reached 60 to 80 cm in length. It can reach at least 25 years of age.
|
|
|
|
