Algal production in the west-central North Sea

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Abstract
In 1976, 13 cruises were used for a plankton survey of an area approximately 300 × 150 km off the north-east coast of England from March to November. Results are presented of integrated zooplankton samples, surface measured nitrate, phosphate, silicate and chlorophyll, as well as other environmental characteristics. They show that the spring bloom started from near the Dogger Bank and spread to most of the area by the end of April; this declined and a nearshore production zone was seen in summer. This eventually disappeared and an offshore autumnal peak was found. The data are interpreted with use of a vertically integrated two-dimensional model. The model adequately explains the amplitude and timing of the two-dimensional distributions of algal standing stock for the first half of the year but provides a poor representation after that. It is inferred that annual primary production in this region is low, about 40 g C.m−2. This is due to low overwinter levels of nutrients and a shallow mixed layer depth of water. Pelagic fish are considered to have an ecological efficiency of 7–10% and demersal fish of about 4%. The latter figure may be due to underexploitation of demersal biomass.

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