Age and growth of common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (Perciformes; Sparidae) from the Gokceada Island, North Aegean Sea

The aim of this study was to describe age, growth and the relationships between otolith morphometrics and fish length, weight and age of the common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus. This study was carried out from the shores of Gizli liman to Kefalos Cape in the north of Gokceada Island, between April-June 2018. The samples were collected at the depths of 40-120m by long lines. The 90 individuals obtained from P. erythrinus ranging in total length (TL) from 18.5 to 34.5 cm. The calculated length-weight relationships was calculated as W= 0.022TL(2.7767) (R-2 = 0.92). Individual ages were macroscopically determined by counting the annuli of sagittal otoliths. Estimated ages ranged from 2 - 14 years old. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was fitted to the age/total length data as follows: L-infinity = 51.13 cm, K= 0.061 and t(0) = -4.96. The common pandora sagittal otolith length, width and mass were measured between 7.67-12.95mm, 5.38-8.65mm and 0.0810-0.2706g, respectively. No significant differences in otolith morphometrics were found between left and right otoliths. This study provides valuable data for the stock assessment of common pandora in fishing grounds Gokceada Island located in the North Aegean Sea.