Yellowtail Flounder (Limanda ferruginea) Ageing Manual

• Main Authors: Karen Dwyer, Northwest Atlantic, Fisheries Centre
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Newfoundland; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.483.1862; http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2004/scr04-005.pdf

This is a technical manual describing the methods and interpretations used for estimating age in yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea). The paper gives a general overview of ageing, and then discusses how yellowtail flounder are presently being aged at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre (NAFC) in St. John’s, Newfoundland. It also provides information on the types of validation studies that are used to ensure accuracy of ageing, and attempts to troubleshoot any difficult aspects of ageing. The thin-sectioning method used to age this species is discussed, and includes detailed information on how it is carried out. The structure of the whole otolith were discussed, along with the limitations for ageing yellowtail flounder using this structure. This manual contains a glossary and high quality photos and diagrams for use when ageing yellowtail flounder.