Ice Cod Arctogadus glacialis (Peters, 1874) in Northeast Greenland—A First Sketch of Spatial Occurrence and Abundance

Based on bottom trawl catches during the years 2002–2017, we present first large-scale baseline spatial distribution and abundance of ice cod Arctogadus glacialis (Peters, 1874) in fjords shelf Northeast Greenland (latitudes 70 °N–78 °N). Ice peaked secluded sill such as Bessel Fjord, Brede Clavering Ø fjord system Kong Oscar Fjord compared to offshore shelf. The mean biomass was estimated 3.9 kg/km2 49.3 fjords. Nearly 45% restricted temperatures < −1.0 °C almost 90 % occurred within 200–600 m depth. This corresponds well with deep, subzero along coast which, thus, appear most suitable habitat for cod. Moreover, there a gradual decrease over 2002–2017. apparent relocation matches ongoing warming waters. Given that overall temperature space spans less than 4 ºC Greenland, it is likely species particularly vulnerable climate change warmer waters before long enter fjords, i.e., main