Age and Growth of the Bull Shark in the Western North Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
• Main Authors: Natanson, Lisa J., Adams, Douglas H., Winton, Megan V., Maurer, Jasmine R.
• Other Authors: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2014
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00028487.2014.892537; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00028487.2014.892537; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1080/00028487.2014.892537; https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00028487.2014.892537

Abstract Age and growth estimates for the Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas were derived from 121 vertebral centra collected from Bull Sharks (59.1–223.5cm FL) between 1966 and 2010 in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Size at birth was confirmed with an additional 20 embryos (44.2–54.4cm FL). The maximum age based on vertebral band pair counts was 25 (184cm FL) and 27 (196cm FL) years for males and females, respectively. The logistic and Gompertz growth models fitted the size‐at‐age data best for males and females, respectively. Based on previously published estimates of length at maturity, males mature at 15–17years (176–185cm FL) and females at 15years (189cm FL). Bull Sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have similar growth rates and reach similar sizes at age.