The relation between otolith size and larval size at hatching for Atlanticcod, Gadus morhua

We examined the relationship between otolith size and larval standard lengt h (SL) at hatching for Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, on the Scotian Shelf. We found a weak correlation between SL and area-based and radius-based measur es of size of both lapillar and sagittal otoliths. Correlations of SL with the area of the lapillus were strongest. However, the predictive ability of all relationships was low. For example, the range of predicted SL at hatch ing of larvae with lapilli of average area included more than 90% of observ ed SLs in newly hatched larvae from the Scotian Shelf collected over two sp awning seasons. These results suggest that otolith-based attempts to backca lculate the size of cod larvae may be prone to substantial error if sizes o f particularly young larvae are estimated. We recommend that, where possibl e, stock- and season-specific estimates of the relationship between the are a of the lapillus and larval size at hatching be used in back-calculation t echniques.