Transverse sections of sagittae were examined. The first and second annual increments were defined by examination of the progression of otolith radius and length of the 0+ and 1+ cohorts. Growth in both sexes is rapid until ∼5 years old (32-35 cm), and then slows appreciably. There was a broad range of lengths within individual age-classes, with a maximum of 12 age-classes present in a 1 cm length-class. Maximum ages of males and females were 41 and 30 years, respectively, which is considerably higher than previously estimated from whole otoliths. There was no significant difference in the growth curves between males and females, although this is influenced by the large number of juveniles and by the examination of relatively few large, older fish. The sex-specific von Bertalanffy growth parameters are: L∞ 38.4 cm FL, t0 -0.07 years, K 0.36 year-1 for females and L∞ 36.2 cm FL, t0 0.15 years, K 0.42 year-1 for males. The age composition was dominated by 4-7 year olds but showed evidence of considerable recruitment variability, particularly in the strong 1988 year-class. The relationship between the life-history strategy of N. macropterus and recruitment variability is discussed.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Aquaculture and fisheries stock assessment
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Fisheries - wild caught
Objective Field:	Fisheries - wild caught not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Jordan, AR (Dr Alan Jordan)
ID Code:	23286
Year Published:	2001
Web of Science® Times Cited:	6
Deposited By:	TAFI - Marine Research Laboratory
Deposited On:	2001-08-01
Last Modified:	2002-05-10
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