On the Fecundity of the Redfish, Sebastes marinus (L.)

Abstract

Sebastes marinus is an ovo-viviparous fish with an unusual maturity cycle. Estimates of the fecundity from the number of eggs in the ovary prior to self-fertilisation show that these can be related to changes in size and regression equations of fecundity on length are presented for samples from Faroe and Iceland. A comparison of these results with some published data on fertilised egg counts of S. marinus from East Greenland shows the latter to be significantly lower. The relationship between either of these counts and the subsequent numbers of larvae extruded is not known. The appropriate measure of fecundity to be estimated in future will depend on the way in which the data will be utilised.