VALIDATION OF ANNUAL MARKS IN THE OTOLITHS OF YOUNG SNAPPER, PAGRUS-AURATUS (SPARIDAE)

In April 1989, young-of-the-year snapper (Pagrus auratus) were captured from the wild and injected with tetracycline. The fish were reared on natural food in a large pool with flowing sea water under ambient marine conditions. Two fish were removed every two months for two years, and the growth of their otoliths, relative to the tetracycline mark, was measured. Growth of the otoliths was greatest in spring and summer and least during winter. Opaque marks appeared in the otoliths of fish during both winters of the study - Our results confirm that the opaque marks in otoliths of young snapper can be used to determine the age of the fish in years.