Determination of age and growth of the striped seabream Lithognathus mormyrus (Sparidae) in the Canarian archipelago by otolith readings and backcalculation

Abstract

The age and growth of the striped seabream Lithognathus mormyrus caught off the Canary Islands (central- east Atlantic) from January to December 1999 were studied. A total of 496 individuals, ranging in size between 113 and 350 mm total length, were examined. Otoliths clearly showed the ring pattern common to teleost fishes. One year's growth was made up of one opaque and one translucent ring. The opaque ring was deposited during the summer months and the translucent one during the winter months. Fish aged 0-8 years old were found. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all fish were: L↔=427 mm, k=0.19 year-1, and t0=1.46 year. The otolith readings for estimating age and growth were confirmed by using the backcalculation method.