13. ESTIMATES OF BIOMASS

Estimates of biomass have been made from experimental catches per unit area.

Estimates by Brêthes for M. merluccius in division 34.1.1 give a value of 15 × 10³ tons (see Appendix 5). This estimate includes an adjustment of + 25 percent to allow for non-availability of fish in the path of the trawl.

USSR estimates (Appendix 6) gave the following values for the continental shelf from latitudes 20° to 36°N:

M. merluccius 5 × 10³ to 83 × 10³ tons
Merluccius spp. 6 × 10³ to 100 × 10³ tons

For each species, the lower value assumes no adjustment for non-availability of fish and the upper value includes an adjustment of approximately × 20 to allow for non-availability of fish.