Analysis of age and growth in two Eastern Pacific groupers (Serranidae: Epinephelinae)

In an attempt to characterize species specific-growth rates of two Eastern Pacific groupers, individuals from two sympatric species, Epinephelus labriformis (n = 173), and Cephalopholis panamensis (n = 127), were collected at various localities in Mexico and the Galápagos archipelago in 1997 and 1998. Sagittal otoliths were removed, and age of each individual was determined by direct visual inspection of annuli present following sectioning. Length/weight relationships were determined, and growth curves were generated using the von Bertalanffy growth model. The two species demonstrated similar growth rates, yet, as determined by the von Bertalanffy parameters, E. labriformis tended towards a larger size (L∞= 3.18 × 102) than did C. panamensis (L∞= 2.48 × 102). As both species were found to be used in artisinal fisheries, this information may be used to aid in the development of future management strategies as well as to provide possible explanations of ecological interactions among reef inhabitants.