Age determination in yellowtail flounder on the Grand Bank: a new approach

• Main Authors: Karen Whalen, Michael Veitch, Stephen J. Walsh
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.619.6485; http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2000/scr00-032.pdf

The standard age reading method was compared with a new method for ageing yellowtail flounder at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre. The standard method of reading whole otoliths was found to be inadequate after the age of 7 years old. Length-frequency analysis gave estimates of length at age for the first five years for yellowtail flounder. Age estimates of new method of age reading thin sections of otoliths gave a maximum age of 16 years to female yellowtail and 13 years to male yellowtail. Age validation is advised, and radiocarbon dating from nuclear fallout is recommended.