Age and growth estimates for the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, derived from vertebral centra of 258 specimens (118 males, 140 females), ranging in size from 64 to 340 cm fork length (FL) were compared with data from 22 tagrecaptured individuals (74-193 cm FL) and length-frequency data from 1822 individuals (1035 males, 787 females; 65-215 cm FL). Annual bandpair deposition, confirmed by a concurrent bomb radiocarbon validation study, was used as the basis for band interpretation. Validation was further confirmed with a tetracycline-injected male shortfin mako recaptured after being at liberty off South Africa for 1 year and aged at 18 years. Growth rates from tag-recapture analysis (GROTAG) were higher than those derived from vertebral annuli and were only available from sharks up to 193 cm FL at recapture. Modal length-frequency data were used to verify the first four age classes.Growth curves were fit using both von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models. The 3-parameter version of the von Bertalanffy growth function produced the most biologically reasonable values for males, based on observed data (L ¥ = 253 cm FL, K = 0.125 year -1 (estimated longevity = 21 year), and L 0 = 72 cm). The 3-parameter version of the Gompertz growth function produced the most biologically reasonable estimates, for females (L ¥ = 366 cm FL, K = 0.087 year -1 (estimated longevity = 38 year) and L 0 = 88 cm. Males and females were aged to 29 (260 cm FL) and 32 years (335 cm FL), respectively. Both sexes grew similarly to age 11 (207 cm FL, 212 cm FL for males and females, respectively) when the curve leveled in males and continued to rise in females. Age at 50% maturity was estimated at 8 years for males (185 cm FL) and 18 years for females (275 cm FL). The species grows slower, matures later and has a longer life span than previously reported in North Atlantic waters.

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Age estimation is an issue for the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, because of disagreement on vertebral band-pair deposition periodicity. In the 1950s-1960s, thermonuclear testing released large amounts of radiocarbon into the atmosphere, which diffused into the ocean through gas exchange. This influx created a time-specific marker that can be used in age validation. Annual band-pair deposition in the porbeagle, Lamna nasus, was validated in a previous study and indicated preliminary annual deposition in the shortfin mako, using four samples from one vertebra. In the present study, age estimates from 54 shortfin mako vertebrae collected in 1950-1984 ranged 1-31 years. Ageing error between readers was consistent, with 76% of the estimates ranging within 2 years. Twenty-one D 14 C values from eight shortfin mako vertebrae (collected in the western North Atlantic in 1963-1984) ranged -154.8& to 86.8&. The resulting conformity with the D 14 C timeline for the porbeagle supported annual band-pair deposition in vertebrae of the shortfin mako.

Age estimation is an issue for the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, because of disagreement on vertebral band-pair deposition periodicity. In the 1950s-1960s, thermonuclear testing released large amounts of radiocarbon into the atmosphere, which diffused into the ocean through gas exchange. This influx created a time-specific marker that can be used in age validation. Annual band-pair deposition in the porbeagle, Lamna nasus, was validated in a previous study and indicated preliminary annual deposition in the shortfin mako, using four samples from one vertebra. In the present study, age estimates from 54 shortfin mako vertebrae collected in 1950-1984 ranged 1-31 years. Ageing error between readers was consistent, with 76% of the estimates ranging within 2 years. Twenty-one D 14 C values from eight shortfin mako vertebrae (collected in the western North Atlantic in 1963-1984) ranged -154.8& to 86.8&. The resulting conformity with the D 14 C timeline for the porbeagle supported annual band-pair deposition in vertebrae of the shortfin mako.

No abstract