Age and growth estimates for the starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

This study is the first to estimate age, growth and longevity of M. asterias based on interpretation of band pairs in sectioned vertebrae. Age and growth of 106 male and 114 female starry smooth-hound sharks (Mustelus asterias) were estimated by counting band pairs on unstained sectioned vertebrae. Growth curves were fitted to the length-at-age data using the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models. The 1-parameter von Bertalanffy-L0 provided the best fit for males (L∞ = 104 cm TL, L0 = 30 cm TL and estimated K = 16 0.224) and females (L∞ = 133 cm TL, L0 = 30 cm TL and estimated K = 0.136). Longevity was estimated to be 11.8 and 20.2 years for males and females respectively. The length weight relationship is also presented for 304 male and 424 female M. asterias. The von Bertalanffy model was fitted to weight-at-age data. These estimates can form the basis of future work on the assessment and management of this species.