Age and growth of the forkbeard Phycis phycis (Gadidae) from the Azorean archipelago, North Atlantic
The forkbeard Phycis phycis is one of the main target species of the demersal fishery in the Azores, north-eastern Atlantic. Age and growth of the forkbeard were studied using 477 otoliths from individuals caught between April 2000 and August 2004. Otoliths were burned and sectioned, a preparation m...
| Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2009
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409002598 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315409002598 |
| Summary: | The forkbeard Phycis phycis is one of the main target species of the demersal fishery in the Azores, north-eastern Atlantic. Age and growth of the forkbeard were studied using 477 otoliths from individuals caught between April 2000 and August 2004. Otoliths were burned and sectioned, a preparation method that improved the easiness of readings. Individuals ranged from 21 to 71 cm in total length, and their estimated ages between 2 and 18 years old. Forkbeard is a relatively slow growing, long lived species, that does not show sexual dimorphism in growth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for the Azorean forkbeard were L ∞ = 79.64 cm, k = 0.09 yr −1 and t 0 = −1.88 years. |
|---|