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Long‐term changes in growth and age at maturity of mackerel, Scomber scombrus L., from the North Sea
Author(s) -
Agnalt A.L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1989.tb03074.x
Subject(s) - scomber , biology , mackerel , fishery , maturity (psychological) , stock (firearms) , fish measurement , zoology , north sea , oceanography , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , psychology , developmental psychology , archaeology , geology
Mean length and mean weight at age of Atlantic mackerel in the North Sea increased significantly between 1960 and 1979, then, decreased markedly during the 1980s. In contrast, median age at maturity decreased (c. 1‐1.5 years) from 1960. Median length at maturity remained stable until the 1980s, when it declined sharply. The significance of these changes is discussed in relation to variation in sea temperature, food availability and stock size. It is speculated that the changes during the 1980s resulted from immigration of western stock mackerel.