Abstract

Samples of bluestriped grunt (Haemulon sciurus) from Bermuda, primarily obtained between 2001 and 2008 while investigating a potential spawning aggregation, were analysed for age, growth and reproductive characteristics. Individuals were aged from 2 to 23 years and ranged in size from 18.2 to 35.1 cm fork length (FL). Size-at-age was highly variable, with size ranges spanning up to 6 cm for a given year class, and this was reflected in otolith weights. Therefore, otolith weight is not a good proxy for age in this species. The 3+ year class was the first class of mature individuals that was abundant in the samples collected from the aggregation site, and 4- and 5-year old fish were more abundant than 3-year old fish. Average age at first reproduction for bluestriped grunt in Bermuda is thus considered to be 3 to 4 years. Average size of 3+ fish was 25.4 cm, and maximum size was 28.4 cm. Average and maximum sizes of 4+ fish were 26.3 cm and 30.4 cm respectively. Based on these data, a minimum legal size for retention of captured bluestriped grunts in Bermuda could be set at 28 cm / 11” FL. The maximum weight recorded from these samples was 821 g, and the length-weight relationship derived from these data is W = 0.0126 × L3.1315, where W = whole weight (g) and L = fork length (cm). Calculation of von Bertalanffy growth parameters is ongoing.

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