Growth of 0-age Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus in the waters off the western coast of Kyushu [Japan]

Growth of the 1992 and the l993 year-classes of 0-age Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) were estimated from daily otolith increments. Most of the specimens could be counted precisely until about 150 days old, and a few individuals were counted over 150 days old. The relationship between daily age (t) and body length (BL:mm) was as follows: BL= 154.7(1-e super(-0.0094(t-l6.78))). The daily growth rate was calculated from otolith increment width and the relationship between otolith radius and body length. Growth rates ranged from 0.04 to 1.l0 mm/day until 60 days old in the 1993 year-class. Hatching dates were calculated from sampling dates and daily age, and ranged from the last ten days of February to the middle ten days of March in both year-classes.