Age determination procedures for benthic fish in Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO)

Abstract

This handbook presents a summary of the age estimation procedures used in the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) for some of the main commercial benthic species of fish for the Spanish fleet: megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis), four spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), black anglerfish (Lophius budegassa). It provides information about the sampling program, the morphology of hard parts (otoliths and illicia), their extraction, preparation, and the age estimation criteria. A summary of information related to the accuracy, validation and corroboration of age of each species is also presented, as well as that related to the precision, quality control and verification of age.