GROWTH AND OTOLITH MICROSTRUCTURE OF COD (GADUS-MORHUA L) LARVAE

(C)od larvae from Irish Sea stocks were reared under different growth conditions, and the otolith growth and increment formation examined in sagittae and lapilli. Otolith increments were first deposited around the time of hatching and increment counts, on average, reflected larval age. The growth rate of fish larvae reared in different sized tanks was significantly different (P < 0.001), but there was no detectable effect on increment formation. Otolith size was independent of larval size for individuals <5 mm in length. In larvae >6 mm, larger, faster growing individuals had larger and faster growing otoliths.