Abstract

209 pairs of otoliths were used to determine the age and growth of the scaled sardine (Harengula jaguana) whose. sizes oscillated between 73 mm and 149 mm of fork length. Samples were collected from landings at Celestun Port, Yucatán, between October 1986 and July 1987. The analysis of the otoliths edges established that the main ring is formed in April, while a secondary one is deposited in December. The former could be attributed to reproductive factors, whereas the latter is determined by diminishing temperatures. The maximum observed age was 7 years. L and K parameters, estimated according to Ford-Walford and CAST methods, for observed and backcalculated lengths, varied between 153 mm-158 mm and 0.17-0.24 per year, respectively. Estimated values of the growth rate, w and growth index ø showed a strong similarity for all estimations.

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