During the cruise of the RV Vozrozhdenie (VNIRO, USSR) in March/April 1990 an integrated study survey was conducted in the Southern Atlantic along two meridional transects at 17° and 20°W in the latitudes from 37°30' to 55°30'S. The survey was mainly focussed on studies of distribution of adult and pre-spawning Electrona carlsbergi and also on searching for possible spawning areas of the species. During the survey the following zones within the study area were identified as having different vertical structures of water masses: Subtropical Zone, Subtropical Frontal Zone, Sub-Antarctic Zone, Polar Frontal Zone and Antarctic Zone. Samples of E. carlsbergi were analysed by length composition, sex ratio and maturity stages in relation to the location where samples had been taken. The following division of the E. carlsbergi area of habitat was suggested after the analysis: feeding area - Polar Frontal Zone; reproduction area - Sub-Antarctic Zone and Subtropical Frontal Zone. The centre of the species' area of habitat is in the Sub-Antarctic Zone because the greatest range of fish length and stages of gonad maturity has been observed in this zone.