Age determination and growth estimation from otolith micro-increments and fin spine sections of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the western North Pacific
Tamaki Shimose A B C D , Kotaro Yokawa B and Katsunori Tachihara A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratory of Fisheries Biology and Coral Reef Studies, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
B National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka 424-8633, Japan.
C Research Center for Subtropical Fisheries, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency,148-446, Fukai-Ohta, Ishigaki, Okinawa, 907-0451 Japan.
D Corresponding author. Email: shimose@affrc.go.jp
Marine and Freshwater Research 66(12) 1116-1127 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14305
Submitted: 1 October 2014 Accepted: 8 December 2014 Published: 4 May 2015
Abstract
Age determination and growth estimation of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) were performed by combining method of otolith micro-increment counts of 27 young (17–185-cm lower jaw–fork length, LJFL) and sectioned dorsal fin spines of 571 adult individuals (155–352 cm). Otolith micro-increments were counted with ages of 26–338 days old. The estimated mean length (185 cm) at Year 1 and growth rate were used to predict the position of the first annual growth band in sectioned fin spines. Distinct growth bands were formed in fin spines annually between September and October. Indistinct growth bands were considered false-annual growth bands. The observed and back-calculated LJFLs at each age were highly variable for both sexes. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated using mean back-calculated LJFL data as: L∞ = 295 cm, k = 0.23, t0 = –3.31 years for females and 212 cm, 0.29, –4.49 years for males. Females grew to >200 cm in 2 years and to >250 cm in 5 years on average, whereas the growth of males slowed appreciably after they reached the age of 1 year. This is the first study of blue marlin growth for entire life stages.
Additional keywords: billfish, Istiophoridae, sexual dimorphism.
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