Age, Growth and Maturity of Red Porgy Pagrus pagrus (Sparidae) from Southeastern Brazil

Age, growth and length-at-maturity of the red porgy Pagrus pagrus were studied off the southeastern coast of Brazil. A total of 798 otoliths from specimens sampled from the hook-and-line commercial landings between January and December 2017 were used. Age and growth were estimated by counting and measuring increments in sectioned sagitta otoliths, and length-at-maturity was estimated based on macroscopic gonadal analysis. The annual periodicity of opaque zones was validated by marginal increment analysis. Growth curves were estimated by fitting von Bertalanffy growth model to the observed length-at-age data. A single annulus was laid down in summer, from November to February, associated with coastal upwelling of the subtropical South Atlantic Central Water (14.9-18.0 degrees C) and with the onset of reproductive activity. The maximum age observed was 11 years in females and 12 years in males. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy model were: males (L-infinity = 419.9 mm, k = 0.347 year(-1), t(0) = - 0.199), females (L-infinity = 503.8 mm, k = 0.253 year(-1), t(0) = - 0.154) and sexes combined (L-infinity = 461.0 mm, k = 0.290 year(-1), t(0) = - 0.260). The mean length and age at first maturity was estimated at 258 mm (2.5 years) for males and 274 mm (3.0 years) for females. For both sexes, maturity precedes size and age at which specimens are fully recruited to hook-and-line fisheries at age 4 (327 mm).