Age estimation and growth of some deep-sea fish from the northeast Atlantic ocean

Age is a necessary parameter used in population dynamics to assess the state of exploited resources. This parameter is poorly known for most deep-sea species (depth > 400 m). This work focused on age estimation from otoliths of Alepocephalus bairdii (Alepocephalidae), Coryphaenoides rupestris (Macrouridae), Helicolenus dactylopterus (Sebastidae) and Hoplostethus atlanticus (Trachichthyidae), which French fishery exploitation, off the west coasts of the British Isles, began the late 1980's. Considering otolith growth zones as annual, the four species all show high longevity: 38, 54, 43 and 130 years, respectively, together with slow growth. The differences in growth between sex were estimated and difficulties in accurately estimating the age were highlighted and showed the need to standardise and validate age estimation. The ages currently estimated for deep-sea fish must be used with caution.