Corroboration of fast growth rate of blackbellied angler (Lophius budegassa) in Spanish Mediterranean

The growth pattern of Lophius budegassa, an important exploited demersal fish, is analyzed in Spanish Mediterranean waters using length-frequencies: Length Frequency Distribution Analysis package (LFDA) and Modal class Progression Analysis (MPA). Age and growth are key biological aspects for the assessment of this population. The growth parameters presented may be used in the age-structured models currently used for its annual stock assessment. Individuals ranging from 3 to 128 cm were collected by means of 12 annual bottom research surveys (2004- 2015). The growth curve estimated by the length-frequency methodologies was similar (Φ9 5 3.2) for the two methods used. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters obtained for both genders were as follows: L∞ 5 96.99 cm, k 5 0.178, t 0 5 20.084 years (SLCA); L∞ 5 105.41 cm, k 5 0.144, t 0 5 20.212 years (MPA). The results reveal that the growth pattern of this population is faster than those estimated by applying the traditional illicia (first dorsal fin ray) or otolith age reading. The new faster growth estimated in this study provides reasonable tracking of cohorts in the abundanceat-age matrix obtained. These cohort tracking results, beside the consistency of the growth pattern observed in the length-frequency studies, corroborate the faster growth presented. In addition, the age was estimated from a sample of illicia, and the modifications in the traditional biased age estimation criterion are shown, suggesting a new and more accurate criterion at early ages. The findings presented in this study on the growth of L. budegassa and their corroboration can help to reduce the uncertainty in the estimation of its demographic structure