Abstract
Natural levels of210Pb:226Ra in otoliths of orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus, from south-east Australian waters, were measured to determine fish ages radiometrically. Up to maturity, radiometric age estimates were consistent with a single constant otolith growth rate. Radiometric ages for juveniles were comparable with, but greater than, those obtained in a recent, validated New Zealand study which employed counts of annuli on the surface of otoliths. Beyond maturity, radiometric ages were obtained by modelling with an otolith growth rate set at 45% of the juvenile rate. Radiometric ageing confirms that orange roughy is very slow-growing, with an age at maturity (32 cm standard length, SL) of ~ 32 yr, and is very long-lived, with fish 38 to 40 cm being 77 to 149 yr old. These results have important implications for the management of the fishery.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Beamish, R. J. (1979). New information on the longevity of Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus). J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 36: 1395–1400
Beamish, R. J., McFarlane, G. A. (1983). The forgotten requirement for age validation in fisheries biology. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 112: 735–743
Beamish, R. J., McFarlane, G. A. (1987). Current trends in age determination methodology. In: Summerfelt, R. C., Hall, G. E. (eds.) The age and growth of fish. The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, p. 15–42
Bennett, J. T., Boehlert, G. W., Turekian, K. K. (1982). Confirmation of longevity inSebastes diploproa (Pisces: Scorpaenidae) from210Pb/226Ra measurements in otoliths. Mar. Biol. 71: 209–215
Boehlert, G. W. (1985). Using objective criteria and multiple regression models for age determination in fishes. Fish. Bull. U.S. 83: 103–117
Campana, S. E., Zwanenburg, K. C. T., Smith, J. N. (1990).210Pb/226Ra determination of longevity in redfish. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sciences 47: 163–165
Fenton, G. E., Ritz, D. A., Short, S. A. (1990).210Pb/226Ra disequilibria in otoliths of blue grenadierMacruronus novaezelandiae: problems associated with radiometric ageing. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 41: 467–473
Gauldie, R. W. (1987). The fine structure of check rings in the otolith of the New Zealand orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus). N. Z. Jl mar. Freshwat. Res. 21: 261–274
Gauldie, R. W. (1988a). Microscopic growth increments in the otolith of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) and their potential use in studies of growth, recruitment and otolith structure. (Unpublished manuscript held at Fisheries Research Centre, New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wellington)
Gauldie, R. W. (1988b). The effect of surface sculpturing on the interpretation of opaque and hyaline zones in the orange roughy otolith. J. appl. Ichthyol. 4: 140–146
Gauldie, R. W. (1990). Phase differences between check ring locations in the orange roughy otolith (Hoplostethus atlanticus). Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sciences 47: 760–765
Kalish, J. M. (1989). Otolith microchemistry: validation of the effects of physiology, age and environment on otolith composition. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 132: 151–178
Kotylar, A. N. (1980). Age and growth of the bigheadsHoplostethus atlanticus andH. mediterraneus. In: Fishes of the open ocean. Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences USSR, Moscow, p. 66–88
Lester, R. J. G., Sewell, K. B., Barnes, A., Evans, K. (1988). Stock discrimination of orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus, by parasite analysis. Mar. Biol. 99: 137–143
Linkowski, T. B., Liwoch, M. (1986). Variations in the morphology of orange roughyHoplostethus atlanticus (Trachichthyidae) otoliths from New Zealand waters. Pr. morsk. Inst. ryb. Gdyni 21: 43–59 (Rep. Sea Fish. Inst. Gdynia)
Lyle, J., Evans, K. R., Wilson, M. A. (1989b). A summary of orange roughy biological information: 1981–1986. Tech. Rep. Div. Sea Fish., Dep. prim. Ind., Tasm. 39: 1–47
Lyle, J., Kitchener, J., Riley, S. (1989a). Orange roughy bonanza off Tasmania. Aust. Fish. 48(12): 20–24
Mace, P. M., Fenaughty, J. M., Coburn, R. P., Doonan, I. J. (1990). Growth and productivity of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) on the north Chatham Rise. N. Z. Jl mar. Freshwat. Res. 24: 105–119
Ovenden, J. R., Smolenski, A. J., White, R. W. G. (1989). Mitochondrial DNA restriction site variation in Tasmanian populations of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) a deep-water marine teleost. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 40: 1–9
Pankhurst, N. W., Conroy, A. M. (1987). Size-fecundity relationships in the orange roughyHoplostethus atlanticus. N. Z. Jl mar. Freshwat. Res. 21: 295–300
Pannella, G. (1980). Growth patterns in fish sagittae. In: Rhoads, D. C., Lutz, R. A. (eds.) Skeletal growth of aquatic organisms: biological records of environmental change. Plenum, New York, p. 519–560
Rosecchi, E., Tracey, D. M., Webber, W. R. (1988). Diet of orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus (Pisces: Trachichthydae) on the Challenger Plateau, New Zealand. Mar. Biol. 99: 293–306
Sill, C. W., Olson, D. G. (1970). Sources and prevention of recoil contamination of solid-state alpha detectors. Analyt. Chem. 42: 1569–1607
Van den Broek, W. L. F. (1983). Ageing deepwater fish species: report of a visit to the United Kingdom September–November 1982. Misc. Ser. Fish. Res. Div. Minist. Agric. Fish. (Unpubl. travel Rep., MAF Fisheries, Greta Pt Library, Wellington, N.Z)
Veeh, H. H., Burnett, W. C. (1982). Carbonate and phosphate sediments. In: Ivanovich, M., Harmon, R. S. (eds.) Uranium series disequilibrium: applications to environmental problems. Oxford University Press, New York, p. 459–480
Williams, H. A. (1987). An analysis of orange roughy otoliths. (Unpublished manuscript held at the National Marine Fisheries Service, United States Department of Commerce, Hawaii)
Williams, M. (1989). Orange roughy research in Australia: a case for research co-ordination. Search, Sydney 20: 130–134
Williams, R., Bedford, B. C. (1974). The use of otoliths for age determinations. In: Bagenal, T. (ed.) The ageing of fish. Unwin Brothers, Surrey, England, p. 114–124
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fenton, G.E., Short, S.A. & Ritz, D.A. Age determination of orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus (Pisces: Trachichthyidae) using210Pb:226Ra disequilibria. Mar. Biol. 109, 197–202 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01319387
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01319387