Growth and age estimation of Diplodus sargus cadenati (Sparidae) off the Canary Islands

Abstract

Age and growth of Diplodus sargus cadenati caught off the Canary Islands (northwest Africa) from April 2000 to March 2001 were studied. A total of 604 individuals, ranging in size between 46 and 404 mm total length, was examined. Otoliths showed clearly the ring pattern common to teleost fishes. One year growth was made up of one opaque and one translucent ring. The opaque ring was deposited during the summer months and the translucent one during the winter months. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all fish were: L∞=473 mm, k=0.142 yr−1, and t0=−1.968 year. The validity of otolith readings for estimating age and growth was supported by results from the backcalculation method. This study revealed that D. sargus cadenati is a relatively slow growing and long-lived subspecies with a life span in excess of 12 years.