Interannual variations in condition indices of larval Norwegian spring‐spawning herring

The sea water temperature off the Norwegian coast was lower in 1994 than in 1992 and 1993. RNA/DNA ratios of Norwegian spring spawning herring increased with increasing larval dry weight all years, except for larvae sampled south of 62°N in 1994. The RNA/DNA ratios indicated that each year, only a small portion ( 0.7%) of the larvae were starving. RNA/DNA ratios and temperature were negatively correlated in 1992, but in other years no significant correlations were found. Residuals of In RNA v. In DNA and In W v. Ls were poorly correlated in all years, but residuals of In RNA v. In DNA and In DNA v. In W were negatively correlated in all years. Principal component analysis showed that the RNA/DNA ratio and DNA (% of weight) were correlated with different axes. Abundance data for herring at the early larval and 0‐group stages in 1992–1994 indicated higher mortality in 1994 compared with the other years. The data do not indicate that average larval condition was poorer in 1994 than in other years. However, the variability in larval condition was higher in 1994 than in other years, and the condition of later larval stages was relatively lower in 1994 than in other years.