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Have been given the go ahead to use information I have received from Nigel Proctor, but have been asked to add “that to an extent its speculation albeit with a modicum of research behind it”.
As we all know there have been a lot of herring since last summer off the North East coast.
Yes please, I’d like a look at the pictures and other info you have. In respect of the wash ups/stranding, I know four seems extreme, but to be honest I’m not so sure it is, there are anecdotal references to up to 6 oarfish or King of Herrings as they are alternatively known, being stranded or washed up during the winter season, although they are more usually dead. Wheeler states that the main time period for stranding is between January and April, so we may see more yet. The reasoning for them washing up is unclear, sometimes they are found at sea still alive but in a helpless condition, many of which are badly damaged. They are a very delicate species and the head bones are paper thin, so it wouldn’t take much impact to affect them. As the majority of occurrences occur during the winter/early spring, and given that they are a moderately deep water species, and are found down to 1000m, although more regularly between 20m to 200m, they are likely to feed predominantly on zooplankton (crustacean and fish larvae) and squid. It may be that as their usual prey becomes scarce during the winter months, or migrates further onto the continental shelf, the oarfish follow in feeding mode, of late we have seen an increase of large Loligo squid in the coastal waters of the NE, even as far as the Wash. In addition to this, along this stretch of coast (NE England), January – March/April coincides with a period of shellfish larval activity, as lobster, edible crab and velvet crab larvae are more active and increasingly abundant, particularly in the upper surface layers.
The oarfish or ribbon fish may be chasing zooplankton and other available prey in our surface waters (upper 5m), and either as a result of storms, hit by boats or due to environmental factors (temperature drop), they are damaged or affected to the extent that they are unable to recover. Highly speculative I know, but without any additional info it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions, we can but play the percentage game, with the limited facts we have i.e. they come inshore from deep water during the winter and some die on the beach or rocks. We also know that squid are increasing inshore, and that the herring overwinter inshore, and are as we speak beginning to re-assemble around the 3 – 6 mile mark. The fact that oarfish are also known as the King of the Herrings, shows some distant relationship with herring, but unfortunately I can find no evidence in the literature to indicate why, although I must admit I’ve given this but a cursory glance due to pressing work commitments. It maybe that the oarfish moves inshore to overwinter with the herrings and feeds on them, some work I did 3 years ago shows that herrings may overwinter as close as 300m from the LW mark in some areas, and we are not talking about a few herrings, but dense shoals. It may be that the oarfish we see washed up on the shore are old or unwell, they are already inshore so it is reasonable that they end up being washed ashore, as opposed to rotting or being consumed in deeper water. Another thought may also be that they are accidental bycatch in trawl or net fisheries, although I would expect tell tale marks on the body.
Anyway I hope that helps, I’ll look into it a bit more when I get the time.
"And I looked, and behold'a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with hi, and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger, and with the beasts of the earth"
Sorry about that Iva-a-Cod, i hadn't actually read to the bottom of the thread on the previous page when i posted my reply, i wasn't questioning your knowledge of the seas!!! Have a good weekend lads!
Sorry about that Iva-a-Cod, i hadn't actually read to the bottom of the thread on the previous page when i posted my reply, i wasn't questioning your knowledge of the seas!!! Have a good weekend lads!
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