Gonadal development in striped jack Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) in Canary Islands coastal waters

Abstract

The striped jack Pseudocaranx dentex (Block & Schneider, 1801) is a common species associated with commercial ongrowing floating cages for seabream Sparus aurata L., 1758 and seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (L., 1758) in the Canary Islands. In order to explore the potential of this species for aquaculture, a study of their annual reproductive cycle has been carried out. For an entire year, gonadal samples and morphometric parameters from wild specimens were studied. Water temperatures and photoperiod, measured at the moment of sampling, were recorded. Macro- and microscopic analysis of the gonads, together with the evolution of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the condition factor (CF), made it possible to establish the annual maturation cycle. Oocytes in advanced vitellogenic stages were found between May and November, suggesting a long spawning period for this species in coastal waters of the Canary Islands.