New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Growth and age structure of alfonsino (Beryx splendens) from the lower east coast, North Island, New Zealand

B. R. MASSEY P. L. HORN1

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
P. O. Box 2034, Ahuriri, Napier, New Zealand
1 Present address: Fisheries Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, P. O. Box 297, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract Commercial landings of alfonsino (Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834) from the Palliser Bank, Tuaheni High, and Paoanui Ridge were sampled to describe growth and determine the age composition of catches. The study indicated that one opaque and one hyaline zone were formed annually in sagittal otoliths, the hyaline zone being deposited in late autumn. Fish were probably about 10 months old when the otolith nucleus was fully formed. The length-weight equations for males and females differed and both changed throughout the year in parallel with the spawning cycle. Size-selective mortality did not occur on the Palliser Bank. Females were significantly larger at any given age than males on all grounds examined, but growth of males and females appeared consistent between grounds. Growth was slower than in Japanese waters and the Atlantic. Age structure varied between grounds, but was reasonably constant over time on the Palliser Bank. Full recruitment to the commercial fishery occurred at age 5 on the Palliser Bank. Fish recruited onto the ground from February to July.

Keywords alfonsino; Beryx splendens; otolith; age validation; growth; age-length relationship; age structure; recruitment

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1990, Vol. 24: 121-136 ; Crown copyright 1990
Received 15 March 1988; accepted 31 August 1989

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1064K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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