Pan-Arctic suitable habitat model for Greenland halibut

Abstract Deep-sea marine fishes support important fisheries but estimates of their distributions are often incomplete as the data behind them may reflect fishing practices, access rights, or political boundaries, rather than actual geographic distributions. We use a simple suitable habitat model based on bottom depth, temperature, and salinity to estimate potential distribution Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). A large presence-only dataset is examined using multivariate kernel densities define environmental envelopes, which we link spatial pan-Arctic oceanographic model. Occurrences generally fit well, although there were gaps in predicted circum-Arctic likely due limited survey activity many ice-covered seas around Arctic Ocean. Bottom temperature depth major factors defining observations, other factors, such ecosystem interactions larval drift could also influence distribution. Model predictions can be tested by increasing sampling effort poorly explored regions studying connectivity putative populations. While abundances High currently low, some areas for this species, suggesting that on-going sea-ice melt lead expansion into new areas.