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Age estimation, growth, maturity and distribution of the roundnose grenadier from the Rockall trough
Author(s) -
Kelly C. J.,
Connolly P. L.,
Bracken J. J.
Publication year - 1997
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.1095-8649.1997.tb01336.x
Subject(s) - biology , trough (economics) , spawn (biology) , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , fishery , economics , macroeconomics
This paper summarizes the history of commercial exploitation of roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris in the North Atlantic. Length frequencies of C. rupestris in 1993, from 400 to 1200 m on the slopes of the Rockall trough indicate a reduction since the 1970s in the modal length of fish found at 700–1000 m. Ages ranged from 2 to 50 years for males and 2 to 60 years for females, with most between 10–38 years. Females attained a greater asymptotic pre‐anus length ( L ∞ =19.5 cm) than males ( L ∞ =15.5 cm) and had a greater weight for a given age (male W ∞ =761g, female W ∞ =1132g). This species may have a protracted spawning period. Using pre‐anus lengths, 50% of male fish were mature at 10 cm (ages 8–10) while 50% of female fish were mature at 12 cm (ages 9–11). At the greatest depths sampled the length frequency of fish was bimodal with a hiatus between 9 and 11 cm (ages 8–12). Highest catch rates occurred on the Donegal slope in September at a depth of 800–1000 m.