Age and growth of stone scorpionfish (Scorpaena mystes) from the Gulf of California in Mexico.

The stone scorpionfish (Scorpaena mystes) is common throughout the Gulf of California in Mexico. Because little information is available regarding the basic biological characteristics of this species and because commercial demand for it is increasing, the need for studies of population dynamics is urgent. We sampled 233 stone scorpionfish (117 males and 116 females) in the Gulf of California from May 2015 through April 2016 to estimate age and individual growth. Total lengths (TL) ranged between 15.3 and 35.5 cm for males and between 19.0 and 44.5 cm for females. Results from analysis of the edge types of otoliths (opaque and translucent) indicate an annual periodicity in the formation of annuli in sagittae. Ages of stone scorpionfish ranged from 2 to 10 years for males and from 3 to 15 years for females. Estimates for the parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth function were 34.76 and 48.22 cm TL for asymptotic length, 0.202/year and 0.135/year for growth coefficient, and -1.28 and -0.80 years for theoretical age at length zero for males and females, respectively. This study resulted in the first estimates of age and individual growth of stone scorpionfish, information that is essential for evaluation and management of this important fishery resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]