Age and growth ofAplodinotus grunniens(Perciform: Sciaenidae) in themid-Usumacinta River

Abstract

Aplodinotus grunniensrepresent a crucial artisanal fishery in theUsumacinta River’s middle basin that generates food and a subsistence economy.This study aimed to create a model that best describes growth forA. grunniensand provides information on the growth of this poorly known species from theUsumacinta River. Data collection was carried out over one year through monthlysampling. A total of 447 specimens were collected from January to December 2017.Von Bertalanffy’s growth constants were calculated by separate sexes using linear fitand the non-linear Levenberg-Marquardt method. Hotelling’s T-squared test showedthat growth was significantly faster in females than males. The estimated age at firstmaturity was two years in males and three in females. Considering the age reportedforA. grunniensin other studies, the age determined in this study indicates thatthe population could be overexploited. Larger fish are more vulnerable to fishingpressure, mainly during their highest reproductive activity when they aggregate forspawning. More research is needed to evaluate the population status, catch per uniteffort, distribution, and abundance of adults, juveniles, and larvae.