Age and growth of the alfonsino Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 from the Macaronesian archipelagos

Age and growth of the alfonsino Beryx splendens off the Canary Islands, Mad eira and the Azores were studied based on otoliths readings. Otoliths are t hin and show clear annual growth rings. Fish aged 1-9 years (18.2-38.9 cm f ork length (FL)) were found in the Canary Islands, 0-12 years (15.2-41.0 cm FL) in Madeira, and 0-11 years (15.3-43.0 cm FL) in the Azores. No signifi cant differences in the growth parameters were found between malts and fema les. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals were: L-prop ortional to=41.51 cm FL, k=0.15 per year, and t(0)=-3.41 years in the Canar y Islands: L-proportional to=58.71 cm FL, k=0.06 per year, and t(0)=-5.71 y ears in Madeira; and L-proportional to=43.10 cm FL, k=0.17 per year, and t( 0)=-2.80 years in the Azores. Individuals grow fast during the first year o f life, attaining approximately 50% of their maximum length; after the firs t year, the annual growth rate drops rapidly. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.