Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (South Atlantic). Black Sea Bass

• Main Authors: Mercer, Linda P., Moran, David
• Other Authors: NORTH CAROLINA DIV OF MARINE FISHERIES MOREHEAD CITY
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1989
• Subjects: Medicine and Medical Research; Biological Oceanography; *MARINE BIOLOGY; *FISHES; COASTAL REGIONS; ENVIRONMENTS; WATER; GROWTH(GENERAL); HIGH PRESSURE; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; CONTINENTAL SHELVES; PROFILES; DOCUMENTS; HISTORY; LIFE CYCLES; LIFE SPAN(BIOLOGY); COMMERCIAL FISHING; SALINITY; LIFE(BIOLOGY); FISHERIES; INVERTEBRATES; FEEDING; HOOKS; SEDIMENTS; RECREATION; ADULTS; TAXONOMY; HABITS; TRAPS; OFFSHORE; GROWTH(PHYSIOLOGY); YOUTH; ESTUARIES; SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; CAPE HATTERAS; REQUIREMENTS; LOW TEMPERATURE; *BLACK SEA BASS; *CENTROPRISTIS STRIATA; SPECIES PROFILES; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA213090; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA213090

Species profiles are literature summaries on the taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is an abundant species associated with the inshore sponge-coral habitat in the south Atlantic Bight (Cape Hatteras to Cape Canaveral). It is a protogynous hermaphrodite (each individual is first a female and then a male) that spawns from January to June on the Continental Shelf. Juveniles utilize estuaries, as well as offshore areas, for nurseries. It is a slow growing species with a life span of about 10 years. Juveniles and adults are bottom-feeding carnivores. Adults have been collected at temperatures as low as 6 C but are most abundant at temperatures of 8 to 10 C and above. Juveniles tolerate lower temperatures and greater salinity ranges than adults. Black sea bass are primarily harvested by the recreational hook and line fishery and the commercial trap fishery. Yield-per-recruit analyses indicate that the harvest of black sea bass is less than the maximum possible due to a combination of high fishing pressure and harvest of small fish. Keywords: Estuaries; Fishes; Fisheries; Salinity; Growth physiology; Temperature; Spawning; Sediments; Feeding habits; Life cycles; Contaminants; Black sea bass; Centropristis striata; Species profiles. (kt)