Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age determination, bomb-radiocarbon validation and growth of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) from the Northwest Atlantic

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is the largest and one of the most widely-ranging and commercially-valuable groundfish in the Atlantic Ocean. Although presumed to be long-lived, their age and growth has not been validated. Ages were estimated by counting growth increments from approximately 2400 thin-sectioned sagittal otoliths collected from the Scotian Shelf and southern Grand Banks off eastern Canada. The accuracy of age estimates made from otolith thin sections was validated using bomb-radiocarbon assays of 13 otolith cores whose year of formation ranged from 1949 to 1975, encompassing the timeframe of the global radiocarbon pulse. Known-age juvenile halibut from a culture facility were used to identify the approximate location of the first annulus. Growth rate for males and females was similar up to about 70 cm (~5 years), after which point male growth slowed, while female growth continued to an age of up to 38 years and a maximum observed size of 232 cm. Males grew to an observed maximum length of about 175 cm and a maximum age of 50 years. A comparison of age estimates for otoliths collected in a ‘historic’ time frame (1963 to 1974) with those from recent years (1997 to 2007) shows that growth rate has not changed appreciably between the two time periods. Small but significant growth differences were observed between the Scotian Shelf and southern Grand Banks for both sexes, while large differences in length at age were observed between halibut caught with longline compared to otter trawl due to differences in length-based gear selectivity. Age interpretations based on sectioned otoliths tended to be 10–15% different than those based on break and burn, although the age comparison was confounded by other variables and must be considered provisional. Atlantic halibut is a long-lived fish, living up to at least 50 years, an important consideration for the management of the fishery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews AH, Kerr LA, Cailliet GM, Brown TA, Lundstrom CC, Stanley RD (2007) Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) using two independent otolith techniques: lead-radium and bomb radiocarbon dating. Mar Freshwater Res 58:531–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armsworthy SL, Wilson S, Mohn R (2006) Atlantic Halibut on the Scotian Shelf and Southern Grand Banks (Div. 3NOPs4VWX5Zc)–Industry/DFO Longline Survey Results to 2005. DFO Can. Sci Advis Sec Res Doc 2006/065

  • Beamish RJ, McFarlane GA (1983) The forgotten requirement for age validation in fisheries biology. Trans Am Fish Soc 112:735–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blood CL (2003) I. Age validation of Pacific halibut. II. Comparison of surface and break-and-burn otolith methods of ageing Pacific halibut. Int Pac Halibut Comm Tech Rep 47:1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowering WR (1986) The distribution, age and growth and sexual maturity of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Newfoundland and Labrador area of the Northwest Atlantic. Can Tech Rep Fish Aquat Sci 1432:34

    Google Scholar 

  • Branton R, Black G (2004) Summer groundfish survey update for selected Scotia-Fundy groundfish stocks. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2004/108. 64p

  • Burnett JM, Ross R, Clark SH (1992) Several biological aspects of the witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynaglossus (L.)) in the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank region. J Northw Atl Fish Sci 12:15–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana SE (1984) Comparison of age determination methods for the starry flounder. Trans Am Fish Soc 113:365–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana SE (2001) Accuracy, precision and quality control in age determination, including a review of the use and abuse of age validation methods. J Fish Biol 59:197–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana SE, Annand CM, McMillan JI (1995) Graphical and statistical methods for determining the consistency of age determinations. Trans Am Fish Soc 124:131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana SE, Casselman JM, Jones CM (2008) Bomb radiocarbon chronologies in the Arctic, with implications for the age validation of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and other Arctic species. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 65:733–743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casselman JM (1983) Age and growth assessment of fish from their calcified structures—techniques and tools. NOAA Tech Rep NMFS 8:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Chilton DE, Beamish RJ (1982) Age determination methods for fishes studied by the Groundfish Program at the Pacific Biological Station. Can Spec Publ Fish Aquat Sci 60:1–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark WG, Hare SR (2002) Effects of climate and stock size on recruitment and growth of Pacific halibut. North Am J Fish Managem 22:852–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark WG, Hare SR (2006) Assessment and management of pacific halibut: data, methods, and policy. International Pacific Halibut Commission, Seattle Sci Rep 83, 104 pp

  • Devold F (1938) The North Atlantic halibut and net fishing. Fiskeri Dir Skr Ser Havundersr 5:1–47

    Google Scholar 

  • DFO (2009) Assessment of Atlantic Halibut on the Scotian Shelf and Southern Grand Banks (NAFO divisions 3NOPs4VWX5Zc). DFO Can Sci Advis Sec Sci Advis Rep 2009/036

  • Dwyer KS, Walsh SJ, Campana SE (2003) Age determination, validation and growth of Grand Bank yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea). ICES J Mar Sci 60:1123–1138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forsberg JE (2001) Aging manual for Pacific halibut: procedures and methods used by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). Tech Rep 46 56 pp

  • Hamel OS, Piner KR, Wallace JR (2008) A robust deterministic model describing the bomb radiocarbon signal for use in fish age validation. Trans Am Fish Soc 137:852–859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPHC (1998) The Pacific Halibut: Biology, Fishery, and Management. Tech Rep 40 64 pp

  • Jákupsstovu SHÍ, Haug T (1988) Growth, sexual maturation, and spawning season of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, in Faroese waters. Fish Res 6:201–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen AG, Wise JP (1961) Movement of tagged halibut off New England—II. Trans Am Fish Soc 90:489–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jespersen P (1917) Contributions to the Life-History of the North Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus vulgaris Flem.). Medd fra Komm for Havundersøgelser, Ser Fisk 5(5):1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Joensen JS (1954) On the life history of halibut in Faroese waters. Meddelelser fra Danmarks Fiskeri- og Havundersøgelser, Ny Serie 1(5):1–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaimmer SM (1999) Direct observations on the hooking behavior of Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis. Fish Bull 97:873–883

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalish JM (1993) Pre- and post-bomb radiocarbon in fish otoliths. Earth Planet Sci Lett 114:549–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalish JM (1995) Radiocarbon and fish biology. In: Secor DH, Dean JM, Campana SE (eds) Recent developments in fish otolith research. University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, pp 637–653

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanwit JK (2007) Tagging results from the 2000–2004 federal experimental fishery for Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the eastern Gulf of Maine. J Northw Atl Fish Sci 38:37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura DK (1980) Likelihood methods for the von Bertalanffy growth curve. Fish Bull 77(4):765–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Lear WH, Pitt TK (1975) Otolith age validation of Greenland halibut. (Reinharditius hippoglossoides). J Fish Res Board Can 32(2):289–292

    Google Scholar 

  • McCallum B, Walsh SJ (1996) Groundfish Survey Trawls Used at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, 1971- Present. NAFO SCR Doc 96/50

  • McCracken FD (1958) On the biology and fishery of the Canadian Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L. J Fish Res Board Can 15(6):1269–1311

    Google Scholar 

  • Munk K (2001) Maximum ages of groundfishes in waters off Alaska and British Columbia and considerations of age determination. Alaska Fish Res Bull 8:12–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Neilson JD, Bowering WR, Fréchet A (1987) Management Concerns for Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Canadian North Atlantic. Canadian Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Advisory Committee Research Document 87/73:22 pp

  • Perley P, Neilson JD (1985) A review of the status of the 4VWX halibut stocks. Canadian Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Advisory Committee Research Document 85/43 23 pp

  • Piner KR, Wischniowski SG (2004) Pacific halibut chronology of bomb radiocarbon in otoliths from 1944 to 1981 and a validation of ageing methods. J Fish Biol 64:1060–1071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piner KR, Hamel OS, Menkel JL, Wallace JR, Hutchinson CE (2005) Age validation of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) from off the Oregon coast (USA) using the bomb radiocarbon method. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 62:1060–1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricard D, Branton RM, Clark DW, Hurley P (2010) Extracting groundfish survey indices from the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS): an example from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. ICES J Mar Sci 67:638–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigourney DB, Ross MR, Brodziak J, Burnett J (2006) Length at age, sexual maturity and distribution of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) of the northeast USA. J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 36:81–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sipe AM, Chittenden ME Jr (2001) A comparison of calcified structures for aging summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Fish Bull 99:628–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Stobo W, Neilson JD, Simpson P (1988) Movements of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Canadian North Atlantic: inference regarding life history. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 45:484–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuiver M, Polach HA (1977) Reporting of C-14 data. Radiocarbon 19:355–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Treble MA, Campana SE, Wastle RJ, Jones CM, Boje J (2008) Growth analysis and age validation of a deepwater Arctic fish, the Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 65:1047–1059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trumble RJ, Neilson JD, Bowering WR, McCaughran DA (1993) Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) and Pacific halibut (H. stenolepis) and their North American Fisheries. Can Bull Fish Aquat Sci 227 84 pp

  • Trzcinski MK, Armsworthy SL, Wilson S, Mohn RK, Fowler M, Campana SE (2009) Atlantic Halibut on the Scotian Shelf and Southern Grand Banks (Div. 3NOPs4VWX5Zc)–Industry/DFO Longline Survey and Tagging Results to 2008. DFO Can Sci Advis Sec Res Doc 2009/026

  • von Bertalanffy L (1938) A quantitative theory of organic growth (inquiries on growth laws II). Hum Biol 10:181–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwanenburg KCT, Bowen D, Bundy A, Drinkwater K, Frank K, O’Boyle R, Sameoto D, Sinclair M (2002) Decadal changes in the Scotian Shelf large marine ecosystem. In: Sherman K, Skjoldal HR (eds) Large marine ecosystems of the North Atlantic. Elsevier, London, pp 105–150

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was jointly funded by the Atlantic Halibut Council and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. In-kind support was provided by the Shelburne County Quota Group and the Eastern Shore Protective Fishermen’s Association. We thank Javitech observers for their efforts in collecting >65 000 otoliths and Tania Davignon-Burton for ageing >2400 of them. We gratefully acknowledge the technical support of Jenna Denyes, Gerry Young, Jill Moore, Kurtis Trzcinski, Peter Comeau, Mark Fowler, Victoria Burdett-Coutts and Colín Minto. Juvenile cultured halibut were donated by Peter Corey of Scotian Halibut. We thank three anonymous reviewers for their very constructive comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y4A2, Canada

    Shelley L. Armsworthy & Steven E. Campana

Authors
  1. Shelley L. Armsworthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven E. Campana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shelley L. Armsworthy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Armsworthy, S.L., Campana, S.E. Age determination, bomb-radiocarbon validation and growth of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) from the Northwest Atlantic. Environ Biol Fish 89, 279–295 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9696-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9696-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation