Age and growth of redeye round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi off the South African coast

Ages of redeye round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi were estimated with associated errors and used to infer life-history information, such as age composition, age-at-maturity and instantaneous mortality rate. Samples were collected in November 2005 during a research survey aimed at estimating the biomass of spawning pelagic fish off South Africa’s west and south coasts. Replicate age estimates obtained from sagittal otoliths were collected with slight bias and relatively high precision. A von Bertalanffy model describing growth of the combined sexes, including juveniles, was L_t = 20.41(1 ? e^{?0.41(t ? 1.92)}). Kimura’s likelihood ratio test revealed no statistically significant differences between growth parameters of males and females. Results suggested that otolith length is a better predictor of age than otolith weight. Maturity estimates for E. whiteheadi were similar to those previously documented.     

Spatial variation in elemental composition of otoliths of three species of fish (family Sparidae)

Determining the nursery habitat of fishes that have moved from estuarine nursery habitats is difficult. The elemental fingerprints of otoliths of three species of sparids were determined to investigate their utility as a natural tag of the nursery habitat. Juvenile Pagrus auratus (snapper), Rhabdosargus sarba (tarwhine) and Acanthopagrus australis (bream) were collected from two sites in each of 15, six and three estuaries, respectively, and their otoliths analysed by solution-based inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Significant differences in otolith chemistry were found for all three species of juveniles collected from different estuaries. The same patterns among estuaries were not seen for all species, although it was not possible to sample the same sites within an estuary for all species. For bream, significant differences in otolith chemistry were found among all three estuaries, whereas for tarwhine the six estuaries were separated into three groups. For snapper, a number of estuaries could be separated, but there was some overlap for other estuaries. All three species were collected from the same site within one estuary and their otoliths analysed. Significant differences were found among species, but the implication of this finding remains unclear as the three species show differences in microhabitat use and may also differ in age. Because the elemental fingerprints of juveniles vary among estuaries or groups of estuaries, the nursery or recruitment estuary of adult fish could now be determined by analysing the juvenile region of adult otoliths. Thus, connectivity between estuaries and open coastal populations could be determined. Such information will have major implications for fisheries management because it will provide information on the distance that fish have moved from their recruitment estuary and the number of estuaries that contribute to each adult population.     

The age and growth of hottentot seabream Pachymetopon blochii before and after the South African linefish state of emergency in 2000

The hottentot seabream Pachymetopon blochii is a small-sized (maximum 2.67 kg) sparid endemic to southern Africa. It is an important target in South Africa's Western Cape traditional linefishery, particularly in the absence of more valuable pelagic species (such as Thyrsites atun and Seriola lalandi). In 2000, South Africa's linefishery was declared to be in a state of emergency, and commercial fishing effort was consequently reduced by 70%. A subsequent increase in stock biomass and intraspecific competition, coupled with environmental changes, were hypothesised to have thereafter altered the growth rate of hottentot, from 2000 to 2010. This study aimed to revise outdated age–growth models for the hottentot by using modern techniques (sectioned otoliths), and to compare age–growth relationships before and after the declared linefish state of emergency. The maximum age observed was 19 years, with no difference in the growth rate between sexes (p = 0.39–0.43) or time-periods (p = 0.96). Although the growth rate did not change, there is evidence that the age structure of the stock changed between time-periods as a result of changes in fishing pressure between 2000 and 2010. The enhanced recent growth model for hottentot, described as L_t = 418.063 (1 – e^{?0.104(t – [?4.709])}) (pooled sexes; n = 206), indicates a considerably slower growth rate for this species than was proposed previously using whole otoliths and has major implications for effective stock management.     

Use of calcein and alizarin red S for immersion marking of black rockfish Sebastes schlegelii juveniles

Black rockfi sh Sebastes schlegelii juveniles(30–40 mm total length) were immersed in a range of calcein(CAL) solutions at concentrations ranging from 50 to 250 mg/L and alizarin red S(ARS) solutions at concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 mg/L in fi ltered seawater(salinity 30) for 24 h. Fluorescent marks were detected in otoliths(sagittae, asteriscus), scales, fi n rays(dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal fi n rays), and fi n spines(dorsal, ventral, and anal fi n spines) after a 60-d growth experiment. With the exception of 50–100 mg/L CAL, acceptable marks were produced in the otoliths and fi n spines by all concentrations of CAL and ARS. In particular, marks were clearly visible under normal light in the sagittae, asteriscus, and fi n spines of fi sh immersed in 200–500 mg/L, 300–500 mg/L, and 200–500 mg/L ARS, respectively. Scales and fi n rays had acceptable marks at much higher concentrations(≥50 mg/L CAL, ≥300 mg/L ARS for scales and ≥50 mg/L CAL, ≥200 mg/L ARS for fi n rays). The mark quality was highest(i.e., acceptable marks were observed in all sampled structures after immersion marking) in fi sh immersed in 150–250 mg/L CAL or 300–500 mg/L ARS. In addition, there was no signifi cant difference in survival and growth of marked fi sh compared with controls 60 d post-marking( P 0.05).     

Age and growth of bluenose,Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Pisces: Stromateoidei) from the lower east coast,North Island,New Zealand

Growth of the bluenose, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) from the lower east coast, North Island, was determined by counting growth check rings in otoliths. One growth check ring appeared to be laid down each year, so this technique is probably valid for aging bluenose. Female fish had a significantly higher growth rate than males. Comparisons of samples from three sites indicated no significant regional differences in growth. The von Bertalanffy parameters L8,K, and t0 fitted to back‐calculated fish lengths were, respectively, 81.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.627 for males, and 86.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.384 for females.     

An improved technique for preparing eel otoliths for aging

The New Zealand Waters Pollution Regulations 1963, referring to recreational water to which the public can gain access, states that the “coliform bacteria content shall not consistently exceed 1,000/100 ml”. This standard is now under revision, and the suggested new standard is a median faecal coliform index of 200/100 ml with a maximum value not exceeding 400/100 ml.

Recent literature supports the use of faecal coliform sub‐group bacteria as the best indicator of faecal pollution and reference is made to the membership of this sub‐group. Inherent inaccuracies of the Most Probable Number (MPN) method of assessing bacterial populations are pointed out, such as experimental variations with different cultural media, and possible errors in interpretation of results. In North America, there is evidence that an MPN for the total coliform group of 1000/100 ml indicates a faecal coliform sub‐group MPN of 200/100 ml, and epidemiological experience supports these values as standards.

We tabulate and discuss evidence that the usual ratio of faecal coliforms : coliform group bacteria is typically 1 : 1 in fresh and marine waters of the Wellington region, and that a more attainable standard would be 500 faecal coliforms/100 ml. In ratios quoted in this paper, ‘coliform group’ means the remainder of the coliform group excluding faecal coliforms. The World Health Organisation (1963) definition, of the entire group of coliforms, is not intended. The ratio is different in other parts of New Zealand; in Auckland, for example, the ratio is close to that found in the United States.     

Thermal marking of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) otoliths

A small‐scale experiment was done to test the feasibility of thermally marking hatchery‐reared rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) fry that are released into rivers and impoundments in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Fry of rainbow trout were exposed to two different 48‐h thermal cycles each of a cold and warm water period. One thermal regime consisted of a cold water period during which the temperature was reduced from 14 to 8°C for 18 h followed by a return to 14°C for 30 h. For the second thermal treatment, water temperature was reduced to 4°C for 10 h followed by a period of 38 h at 14°C. Thermal cycles were repeated 4 and 8 times for each thermal regime, respectively. Following a growth period after treatment, obvious marks were visible on all treated otoliths as distinct from control otoliths. The 10°C differential treatment created the most visible patterns and growth of these fish was not significantly different from control fish. This marking method could be applied to normal hatchery practices to evaluate the effectiveness of large‐scale rainbow trout stockings in NSW.     

Etropus crossotus, an annual flatfish species; age and growth of the fringed flounder in South Carolina

Fringed flounder, Etropus crossotus, a small flatfish common along the southeastern coast of the US, were collected along the South Carolina coast in the fall of 1992, and in the North Inlet estuary from August 1992 until July 1994. Standard length was 82% of total length and the relationship between standard length and wet weight showed near-isometric growth with no significant differences between males and females. Dry weight was 21% of wet weight and ash-free dry weight 14% of wet weight with no significant differences between sexes. Daily increments in the sagittal otoliths were used for age determination. No annual structures could be identified. The maximum age was about 14.5 months. Age-at-length was not different between the sexes. The relationship between age and length was exponential, with age (in days) equalling an e power of 4.242 + 0.135 × standard length (in cm). Back-calculated hatch dates and catches of early juveniles indicated a spawning season that lasted from March to October. Females started to be sexually mature at 7 to 7.5 cm standard length, but 50% maturity was reached at 8 to 8.5 cm. Females could grow to that size within one spawning season. Individuals hatched early in the spawning season could produce eggs in the latter portion of that season's spawning period.