Lifehistory traits of the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus L., interpreted using information from aquaculture experiments

• Published in: Journal of fish biology 2004-12, Vol.65, p.322-322
• Main Authors: Spedicato, M T, Carbonara, P, Lembo, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Marine; Pagellus erythrinus
• ISSN: 0022-1112; 1095-8649
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2004.0559u.x

The common pandora Pagellus eythrinus is considered a promising species for Mediterranean aquaculture, due to its high market price and good reproduction in captive conditions. The aim of this paper is to clarify aspects of reproduction and growth in the common pandora, using data from both aquaculture studies and experimental fishing. Spawning time and behavior, frequency of egg deposition, larval performance, growth of juveniles and adults and morphometric characteristics were studied in fish originating from a broodstock acclimatized to captivity since 1997. At the same time observations on length structure and other morphometric measures, age and patterns of sexual maturity were gathered from ten trawl surveys between 1996 and 2002. The surveys were carried out in late spring and early autumn in the Central-Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, area where the breeders had been captured. Wild fish growth patterns were estimated using length frequency distribution analysis and age-based methods. The study showed that several micro-cohorts enter in the fishery over an extended period, and growth is faster than previously reported.