Oocyte distribution, ovarian organization, and spawning pattern in Lutjanus griseus

The grey snapper Lutjanus griseus is one of the main snapper species exploited by Mexican artisanal fishers in the southern Gulf of Mexico. An analysis was done of oocyte growth dynamic in the gonads of female L. griseus from the continental shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Oocytes were found to develop homogeneously within the ovaries of this snapper. Lutjanus griseus exhibits an asynchronous ovarian organization and is a batch spawner. Oocyte diameter frequency distributions in ovaries suggest that L. griseus fecundity may be indeterminate.