GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE POPULATION OF THE 4-SPOT MEGRIM (LEPIDORHOMBUS-BOSCII RISSO) OFF THE PORTUGUESE COAST

Information is presented on the four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) caught in the Portuguese fisheries, based on field data from 1989 to 1992. The length (L; cm) -fecundity (F; n) relationship could be described by F = 58.720.L(2.224). The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L(infinity) = 34.8 (cm), K=0.20 (y(-1)), t(0)=-1.44 (y) for males and L(infinity)=39.8 (cm), K=0.16 (y(-1)), t(0)=-1.86 (y) for females. In the length-weight relationship W=a L(b) a=0.0025 and b=3.36 for females and a-0.0045 and b=3.16 for males. The total annual mortality rate was found to be Z=0.45 (y(-1)), natural mortality M=0.38 (y(-1)) and fishing mortality F=0.07 (y(-1)).