Ling

Scientific: Molva molva. English: Ling. Icelandic: Langa. For more languages see the Marine Animal Dictionary.

Biology and distribution

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. It mostly eats other fishes such as 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.

Catch and fishing methods

Icelandic catches have been from 4,000 to 8,000 tonnes annually since 1950 and have been increasing lately. The catch by foreign vessels, mainly German, was roughly equal when these were active in Icelandic waters. Faroese boats still fish a few hundred tonnes of ling around Iceland. The ling is mainly fished with longlines, bottom trawls and gillnets off south and west Iceland. The most important grounds are close to the Vestmannaeyjar Islands off the south coast.

Stock status (from the Marine Research institute)

In 2010, 11 000 t of ling (Molva molva) were landed, the highest catch since 1972. Survey indices of harvestable biomass have remained at similar levels since 2008, near the historical maximum. Since 2007, the exploitation level has increased, and in 2010 it was close to its highest level observed in 1994–2004. MRI recommends a TAC of no more than 8 800 t in the quota year 2011/2012, including catches of foreign vessels which have been about 15% of total landings in recent years. The advice is to bring exploitation levels down to similar levels as observed in 2004 to 2008. Preliminary assessment indicate that these catches would decrease fishing mortality to F0.1.

Processing and markets

Most of the ling catch is salted and exported to southern Europe, mainly Spain, Italy and France. Some amount is also exported fresh or frozen to Western Europe.

References and further information

References: (Bergstad et al, 1998), (Magnúsdóttir et al, 1997) (Jónsson & Pálsson, 2006).

For full citation and further information on the main species in general see this page

Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson, University of Akureyri