Improving the precision of otolith-based age estimates for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) with preparation methods adapted for fragile sagittae

Abstract

). Low precision can result from inadequate training of age readers, poor aging criteria, or peculiarities of the structure being aged (Kimura and Lyons, 1991). The latter is the primary cause of low pre-cision with Greenland halibut, and it confounds attempts to improve the former two. Sagittae of Greenland halibut are irregular in shape and exhibit marked bilateral asymmetry