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Topic: Whiting

Merlangius merlangus 11 10 2015 3

Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)

Photo: Erling Svensen / IMR
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Whiting (Merlangius merlangus)

Photo: Erling Svensen / IMR
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The fry can often be observed hiding under the lion’s mane jellyfish.

Photo: Erling Svensen / IMR

Whiting in the North Sea spawns over a period of several months. In the south, the spawning season starts already in January, and in the north eggs and larvae have been observed as late as September.

Published: 15.04.2020 Updated: 23.08.2023

The fry stay in the upper layers longer than cod and haddock, and can often be observed hiding under the lion’s mane jellyfish. The whiting matures when it is 2 years old.

The whiting is one of the most important predators in the North Sea. 

The main prey is Norway pout, sandeels and herring, but it also eats fry of cod, haddock and its own kin. The whiting is mostly found near the bottom at 10–200 m depth, but it may also rise from the bottom up into the free water layers.