Age and growth of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) in the Southwest Pacific Ocean

This study describes the first validated model of age and growth developed for striped marlin (Kajikia audax). Daily periodicity of otolith microincrements was corroborated by back-calculated hatch dates that matched the known spawning season in the Southwest Pacific Ocean (SWPO). Yearly annulus formation in fin-spine sections was corroborated by daily otolith microincrements and by a marginal increment analysis. Ages of females ranged from 140 d to 8.5 years in fish between 990 mm and 2872 mm lower-jaw fork length (LJFL), and ages of males from 130 d to 7.0 years in fish between 1120 mm and 2540 mm LJFL. Sex-specific differences in growth were significant, with females growing to a larger asymptotic size and greater age than males. An instantaneous growth rate of 3.1 mm d(-1) at 6 months and an estimated length of 1422-1674 mm LJFL by age 1 year makes this species among the fastest growing bony fish. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to commercial longline and recreational fisheries management of striped marlin in the SWPO and in relation to the biology of pelagic fish growth.