Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
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Royal Netherlands
Institute for Sea Research

Fish series

The shallow coastal Wadden Sea is known as the breeding grounds of the North Sea is an important area for many fish species - Atlas of North Sea fish.  Apart from the temporary visitors, the Wadden Sea is also inhabited by resident species that spend (almost) their entire life in the Wadden Sea.  

Whiting
Whiting
January | young whiting can be found near the coast and in the Wadden Sea.
Plaice
Plaice
February | The larvae of the plaice move to the shallow, rich seabed of the Wadden Sea.
Smelt
Smelt
March | Up until the beginning of 2012 many of this species were caught in so-called fyke nets.
Bass
Bass
April | The bass returns to the Wadden Sea from its winter quarters and spawning grounds.
Herring
Herring
May | In 1932 the Enclosure Dam was built and the Zuiderzee became a lake; herring disappeared.
Greater Pipefish
Greater Pipefish
June | Many greater pipefish enter the Wadden Sea from the North Sea to spawn.
Mackerel
Mackerel
July | In winter, mackerel hibernate at a depth of a few hundred metres, in spring they return.
Horse Mackerel
Horse Mackerel
August | Small fish are hiding between the tentacles of swimming jellyfish.
Sea Trout
Sea Trout
September | We only catch migrating sea trout on their way to open sea or to the rivers.
Eel
Eel
October | In autumn when the grass is covered in morning dew you can sometimes see an eel.
Cod
Cod
November | In winter young cod appear in our waters in order to escape cannibalism by larger members.
Five-bearded rockling
Five-bearded rockling
December | Rockling spawns in the North Sea in winter in waters of approximately 10 metres depth.

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