Age, growth and mortality of the garfish, Belone belone (L. 1761) in the Adriatic Sea

A sample of 3393 garfish, Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761) was captured using a seine net between January 2003 and December 2008, along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The range in total length was 20.8-75.4 cm and in weight was 12.21-639.25 g. Length-length equations for converting size measurements (standard length and fork length to total length (TL)) were linear. In the length-weight relationship, positive allometry was established (b = 3.4818). Age, determined from sagittal otoliths, ranged from 1+ to 8+ years. The estimated von Bertalanffy model growth parameters for garfish were L-infinity = 90.3 cm, K = 0.158 year(-1), t(o) = -0.109. Otolith weight was endorsed as a possible age predictor, as it showed highly exponential correlation with total garfish length and age (W-o = 0.0012 TL2.189; W-o = 0.568t(1.486)). These findings were used to examine mortality rates and exploitation in order to improve conservation and management of this pelagic species.