Guidelines for Age Determination of Silver Hake, Merluccius bilinearis , Using Otoliths

Abstract

Age determination of silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis, based on interpretation of otoliths and the application of relevant ageing conventions and criteria, is reviewed. The results of several workshops on ageing of silver hake are summarized, and the effects of agerelated physiological factors, such as spawning, are considered in relation to guidelines for the consistent estimation of age. Growth curves and geographic variation in otolith morphology are discussed, and photographs of typical otoliths with interpretations of age are presented.