K-selection characteristics of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) stocks in New Zealand waters

Abstract

The distributions of length frequencies subdivided by age of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus: Trachichthyidae) had the modal characteristics of K-selected populations. Oceanographic data showed that the depth strata occupied by orange roughy have boundary characteristics which could lead to the development of non-equilibrium dissipative thermodynamic structures and which would account for the K-selection configuration of orange roughy stocks.