Age, Growth and Maturation of the Spiny Dogfish, 'Squalus acanthias' L., of the Northwest Atlantic

摘要

The spiny dogfish is the largest under-utilized finfish resource of the northeastern fisheries of the U.S., yet little critical data is available on its biological parameters. This study describes the age-length relationships, growth and maximum size for both males and females; estimates were also made of size at reproductive maturation. Dorsal fin spines were used to determine the age of fish. The samples for data development were collected in 1976, 1979, 1980, and 1981 at sites in the Gulf of Maine and the New York Bight and comprised 218 male and 434 female fish.