Age determination methods of Solea lascaris (Risso, 1810) inhabiting the Black Sea

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the most reliable bony structures for ageing Solea lascaris inhabiting the Black Sea. The relations between four different bony structures are presented in tables and figures by scale, vertebra, otolith and broken burnt-otolith ages of 215 samples collected between October 1996 and October 1997. It is concluded the broken-burnt otolith is the most reliable structure for ageing this species. The Von Bertalanffy growth equation was estimated from the broken-burnt otolith age as Lt=24.85 x [1 -e-0.113(t+3.87)].