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RESOURCE ECOLOGY & FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
(REFM) DIVISION (cont.)

AGE AND GROWTH PROGRAM:

Total production figures were 31,573 with 10,816 test ages and 405 examined and determined to be unageable.

Because a significant effort is being made in the Age and Growth Program to develop ageing criteria for new species and species for which ageing has been unsatisfactory, and validating ageing methods for species where ageing criteria appear satisfactory, we report these readings under the “special ages” category. Readings may be rereadings of the same specimens for special comparisons. These special readings are for the calendar year 2003.

By Dan Kimura.

Estimated production figures for 1 January through 31 December 2003.

Species

Number Aged

 

Species

Number Aged

Flathead sole

        634

Sablefish

     2,242

Rex sole

        181

Atka mackerel

     2,513

Alaska plaice

        367

Pacific ocean perch

        970

Northern rock sole

     1,026

Northern rockfish

     1,269

Yellowfin sole

     1,268

Harlequin rockfish

        644

Longheaded dab

        226

Light dusky rockfish

        602

Walleye pollock

    15,393

Dark dusky rockfish

        450

Pacific cod

     3,788


“Special Ages” read for 1 January through 31 December 2003.

Species

Number of Age Readings

Purpose of Ageing

Pacific cod

        481

Two cruises aged by break and burn and by toasting.

Spectacled sculpin

        140

Noncommercial species.

Greenland turbot

        442

Surface versus stained cross section comparisons.  Comparison of front and back ages of each otolith pair.

White spotted brenadier

          89

Noncommercial species.

Pacific ocean perch

          77

Re-ageing for C14 age validation.

Skates

        213

Whole vertebra and section ages for Aleutian, Bering, Big, and Longnose skates.

Shortraker rockfish

        718

Readings and rereadings of prominent and thin zones for comparison with radiometric ages.


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