should be conducted also; 3) the present level of sophistication of open sea , 

 mariculture appears to be too primitive to permit this technique to be actively 

 considered as a viable procedure; and 4) water quality does not seem to be a 

 sensitive factor in stock enhancement, but this factor should be actively ' 



monitored, possibly through the MARMAP program or by having the fisherman 

 collect samples. i 



1 

 Haddock I 



\ 



Me 1 anogr ammu s aeglef inus is listed as a "depleted" species by NMFS. '1 



Typically it is caught in greatest numbers on Georges Bank. Two distinct 



spawning stocks are reported; one on Georges Bank and another on Browns Bank. ' 



The haddock on Georges Bank reach marketable size two years earlier than those 



from Browns Bank. Spawning is of greatest intensity from late January to the 



end of May. Floating near the surface, the eggs hatch after 2-3 weeks. The 



larvae are pelagic. Both the eggs, the larvae, and the young up to six months i 



of age are temperature sensitive. This may result in marked yearly fluctuations j 



in population size, although other factors, such as availability of the right ' 



food at the right time might be as important (5) . 



Future possibilities for stock enhancement in addition to catch restrictions 



are: 1) since the eggs and young of this species are sensitive to environmental 



changes with the result that recruitment may fluctuate yearly, a hatchery program J 



of rearing eggs to the juvenile stage and then releasing them seems feasible. 1 



However, in view of the previous disappointment with the cod hatchery program, 



a modest pilot program coupled to an economic feasibility study would seem a I 



logical first step. One recurring problem in all hatchery investigations is ^ 



developing the technology to rear marine organisms under laboratory conditions; 



