Age and growth of the white croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) in a coastal area of Southeastern Brazilian Bight

Rosa S Santos,Francisco G Araújo,Marcus R Da Costa

doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20160131

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies on age and growth of fish populations have direct application in fisheries and contribute for policies of conservation. Our aim was update information on the Micropogonias furnieri growth parameters based on sagittae otoliths annulis readings, and we expected that the studied population from Southeast Brazil can reach more longevity than the reported in the available literature. We examined 286 individuals between August-2010 and July-2011 from Ubatuba Bay, SP. The Total Length ranged 200-480 mm. The determined growth parameters were: Males, L∞ =523.4mm, k = 0.05×year-1, t0 = -8.78 year; Females L∞ = 573.5mm, k = 0.06 × year-1, t0 = -7.49 year. The MI and % of edge type evidenced the formation of one ring per year during autumn/winter, coinciding with low temperature and low growth rate. These results differed from those reported for the Vazzoler’s Population I (summer), and we detected higher longevity (45-48 years) as compared with the recorded in the available information.

Highlights

Studies on age and growth of fish populations are important because they supply basic information for formulating of conservation policies aiming to exploit these renewable resources
The white croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) is a fish of the Sciaenidae family that has a large contribution in landings by both industrial and artisanal fisheries performed in the inner continental shelf and in coastal areas, such bays, estuaries and coastal lagoons (Giannini, Paiva Filho, 1990; Vieira, Castello, 1997; Costa, Araújo, 2003)
A remarkable characteristic of the landscape is the great proximity to the Sea Mountains that extent into the Atlantic Ocean

Summary

Introduction

Studies on age and growth of fish populations are important because they supply basic information for formulating of conservation policies aiming to exploit these renewable resources. The composition and structure of age-classes in a given fish population and the degree of exploitation of these resources are determined by such studies (Longhurst, Pauly, 2007). They provide information on maximum attainable size, periods of high/low growth rates, size and age structure.

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