Population dynamics of the annular Seabream Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1978) from the Maltese Islands reveals a new maximum age record

Abstract

Age, growth, length-weight relationship (LWR), condition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) were investigated for the annular seabream Diplodus annularis collected from non-commercial catches around the Maltese Islands between July 2012 and December 2017 (N=1661). The age distribution of the specimens was found to range between 0+ and 17+ years with a positive allometric growth. Average Kn was found to be 1.03 in males and 0.99 in females. The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation were: L∞=21.38, K=0.123year-1 and tₒ = -5.40year for all individuals (males, females, hermaphrodites and unsexed). This study is the first reference for D. annularis on the length weight equation parameters, condition factor, relative condition factor and age around the Maltese Islands and establishes a new maximum age of 17 years.