Exactly how many of the haddock that hatched in 2013 are still swimming off the coast of southern Nova Scotia is not certain, but researchers agree the numbers are potentially massive.
Biologist Monica Finley recently completed a population assessment for the southern Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy.
She estimates 264 million haddock were hatched there in 2013 and survived their first year, making it an "extraordinary" year-class.
"This 2013 year-class is five times higher than the next highest on record since 1985," said Finley, who works at a Department of Fisheries and Oceans research facility in St. Andrews, N.B.
