Age And Growth Of Engraulis Encrasicolus (Clupeiforme : Engraulidae) In The Tunisian Waters

Age and growth of the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, caught in the Northern and Southern areas along the Tunisian coasts, were determined by otolithometry. Analyses of the otolith marginal zone indicate that a hyaline zone is deposited yearly from November/December to March. In both areas, the anchovies have short lives and grow fast. Their growth was almost achieved during the first year of life and no growth difference was recorded between males and females in the same area. However a different growth pattern was found between the anchovies from the North (open sea) that have on an average a statistically greater size at the same age than those from the South area (inshore coastal water). The corresponding von Bertalanffy growth equations were in the North area: FL = 19.16(1-e(-0.32(t + 1.68))) and in the South area: FL = 17.19(l - e(-0.36(t + 1.01))). Abiotic and/or genetic factors could be involved to explain the growth differences observed between the two areas.