Some Aspects of the Biology of the Sandeel, Ammodytes Tobianus L., in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Author: Reay, P. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1973
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Hyperoplus lanceolatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002531540002230x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002531540002230X

This paper is concerned with the biology of the sandeel, Ammodytes tobianus L., in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire; this was the main area studied in a survey of sandeel populations which are exploited for bait along the south coast of England. Aspects considered are the relative occurrence of the spawning groups; spawning seasons; population structure in terms of length, sex, age and maturity; mortality; annual growth; seasonal growth; and condition. The seasonal pattern of otolith growth and its application to the back-calculation technique, has been described elsewhere (Reay, 1972). A. tobianus forms over 95% of the total sandeel catch in Langstone Harbour. Hyperoplus lanceolatus (Le Sauvage) is the only other species to occur regularly, but individuals of the three other British species, A. marinus Raitt, H. immaculatus (Corbin), and Gymnammodytes semisquamatus (Jourdain), have also been recorded. This pattern of species composition is also found in the other inshore areas studied along the south coast.