*Information from FAO Species Identification Guide Western Central Atlantic*
Size
Maximum size to 2 m and about 90 kg, but average size only around 60 cm with weights averaging about 2 to 3 kg in western Atlantic.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries
Primarily demersal, but becoming pelagic when feeding and spawning; found mostly over continental shelf in 150 to 200 m, but recorded to much greater depths (over 600 m). Prefers cold waters of 0 to 5 degrees C, but found inwaters aswarmas 15 degrees C. A species of considerable economic importance, but stocks in western Atlantic severely depleted and commercial harvest for the most part curtailed. Marketed fresh, frozen, dried, salted, and smoked.
Distribution
A boreal North Atlantic species ranging from North Carolina to Greenland, Iceland, across northern Europe, into Barents Sea including Novaya Zemlya and Spitzbergen; uncommon south of New York and New Jersey and of no commercial importance in Area 31.
