Age, growth and the potential for growth overfishing of spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) from the Chesapeake Bay, eastern USA
Kevin R. Piner A C D and Cynthia M. Jones BA Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Science, Norfolk, VA 23529-0266 USA.
B Center of Quantitative Fisheries Ecology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529-0266 USA.
C Present address: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: Kevin.Piner@noaa.gov
Marine and Freshwater Research 55(6) 553-560 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04038
Submitted: 21 February 2004 Accepted: 21 June 2004 Published: 14 September 2004
Abstract
Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) are a popular commercial and sport fish in the Chesapeake Bay region (USA), but have not been managed with age-based models because of a lack of information on vital rates. This study determined that transversely sectioned otoliths were the most appropriate structure to age spot, and subsequently used those ages to estimate biological parameters and evaluate the potential for growth overfishing. Because spot are short-lived, this study explored estimating population parameters using both whole annulus counts and fractional ages. Although fractional ages may be more realistic, parameters estimated using fractions of a year should be interpreted with caution. Growth of spot was rapid (84% of length attained in the first year), the natural mortality rate was high (59% year−1), and the total mortality rate (natural + fishing) was very high (80–94% year−1). Spot maximised cohort biomass early in life (≈1 year) and were relatively impervious to growth overfishing. This study illustrates the difficulty in providing management advice for species that maximise cohort biomass about the same time as their first potential spawning event. This study also documents that high exploitation rates and size selective fishing gear probably affect estimates of population parameters.
Extra keywords: mortality rates, otolith validation, yield-per-recruit.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank our colleagues at Old Dominion University and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science for their support of this study. This work was funded by Wallop/Breaux Program Grant for Sportfish Restoration from the USA Fish and Wildlife Service through the Virginia Marine Resource Commission. We are very grateful to several reviewers for their constructive advice.
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