Trends in age-at-recruitment and juvenile growth of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, from the English Channel ...

• Main Authors: Challier, L., Dunn, M.R., Robin, J.P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: ASC 2004 - CC - Theme session 2024
• Subjects: Fisheries and aquaculture; Pressures, impacts, conservation, and management; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.25349245; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/Trends_in_age-at-recruitment_and_juvenile_growth_of_cuttlefish_Sepia_officinalis_from_the_English_Channel/25349245

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis is a major fishery resource in the English Channel, and amongst the largest cephalopod stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. Cuttlefish live for approximately 2 years, and consequently landings depend highly upon recruitment success. In this study, we analyze early life stages for differences in age-at-recruitment and juvenile growth. Biological samples of recruits were collected monthly during 2000, 2001 and 2002, and samples of pre-recruits in 2000 and 2002, from the coastal waters of the UK and France. Age in days was determined by statolith analysis. Significant differences in age-at-recruitment were found between the autumnal recruitment, and the rest of the year, and between cohorts. Juvenile growth models were fitted for pre-recruit specimens, and indicated growth rate was significantly higher in 2002 than in 2000. Spatial differences observed were found in 2000, and indicated pre-recruit growth may depend ...