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Variation in fecundity in the lesser sandeel: implications for regional management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2010

Philip Boulcott  and
Peter J. Wright
Philip Boulcott*
Affiliation:
Marine Scotland—Science, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, UK
Peter J. Wright
Affiliation:
Marine Scotland—Science, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P. Boulcott, Marine Scotland—Science, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, UK email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The number of eggs produced by a parental stock is central to fisheries advice on recruitment potential. However, stock based estimates of egg production may give a misleading index of recruitment potential in stocks containing several reproductively isolated populations. This paper examines the ability of length, condition and oocyte developmental stage to predict levels of potential fecundity in the sandeel, Ammodytes marinus, in three important fished areas in the North Sea. Our results indicate that regional variation in this relationship exists, with fecundity in central areas of the North Sea being higher than those found just off the north-east UK. Oocyte diameter was also found to have a significant effect on potential fecundity, suggesting a down-regulation of oocyte numbers arising from pre-ovulatory atresia, however, this effect was not apparent in every model tested. Our findings have relevance to the local sustainability of spawning components and thus the regional management of the North Sea sandeel stock.

Keywords

sandeelAmmodytes marinusfecunditystock reproductive potentialatresiastock assessment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Special Issue 6: Fish Ecology , September 2011 , pp. 1273 - 1280
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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