Growth of young-of-the-year European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.) in the Bay of Biscay

Abstract

Otolith daily increment analysis was used to describe the first growth season of young-of-the-year anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) in the Bay of Biscay. Anchovy larvae and juveniles were sampled during their growth season over a three year period (2004, 2005 and 2006). A logistic curve was fitted to the length at age data. At the end of the first year of growth, length was 168.3 mm, with a maximum growth rate of 1.85 mm day(-1) for 73 days after hatching. Moreover, a Gompertz growth model was applied to estimate otolith growth parameters. At the end of the first year the otolith radius was 1759 mu m, with a maximum growth increment of 22.19 mu m day(-1) observed 56 days after hatching. Standard length and otolith radius were closely related; however, this relationship showed a characteristic change from exponential in the larval stage to linear in the juvenile stage.