Age and growth of the alfonsino Beryx decadactylus (Cuvier, 1829) from the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands, based on historical data

Abstract

Age and growth of the alfonsino Be,yx decadactylus from the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands were studied based on otolith readings. Alfonsino otoliths are thin and show clear annual growth rings. Specimens ranged in size from 2 1.0 to 50.0 cm fork length (aged 2 to 10 years) in the Azores, 20.0 to 45.0 cm fork length(! to 11 years) in Madeira, and 2 1.0 to 44.0 cm fork length (0 to 9 years) in the Canary Islands. No significant differences in growth parameters were found between males and females in any of the three archipelagos. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals were: L00=68.40 cm LF, k=0.11 yeaf1 , 10=-1.90 year in the Azores; L00=70.10 cm Lr, k=0.07 yeaf1 , t0=-4.83 year in Madeira; L00=58.l l cm LF, k=0.11 yeaf1 , t0=-4.70 year in the Canary Islands. No significant differences in growth parameters were found between the three archipelagos.