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Fish stocks associated with seamounts may be particularly susceptible to overexploitation. From January to July 2001, the Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO) conducted an experimental fishing survey entitled ‘Palguinea-2001’ on the seamounts of the Sierra Leone Rise. Beryx splendens (commonly called alfonsino) is the main commercial demersal fish associated with this area. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a demersal longline fishery targeting B. splendens on the previously unexploited small Machucambo Seamount over a short time-scale, and also to consider trends in pooled catch rate at another four seamounts. During 110 fishing days at Machucambo, a total catch of 207 tonnes of B. splendens was taken with a fishing effort of 1 309 070 hooks. A spectral analysis and red-noise spectra procedure (REDFIT) algorithm was used to identify the red-noise spectrum from the gaps in the observed time-series of catch per unit effort by weight. Our results show the potential impact of longline ...

Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens from South-West Indian Ocean seamounts were studied based on whole otolith readings. Ages of the fish under study ranged between one year and 14 years (15.5–43.5cm fork length). Age distribution was related to depth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for males were L&#8734= 49.1cm, K = 0.099 year –1 and t 0 = –4.11 years, and L&#8734 = 57.1cm, K = 0.081 year –1 and t 0 = –4.16 years for females, obtained by length-age pair values. For all individuals the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L&#8734 = 53.5cm, K = 0.085 year –1 and t 0 = –4.33 years. There were no differences in the growth parameters between males and females. Also, the growth parameters of the alfonsino under study did not differ between those of alfonsino from New Caledonia and the Izu Islands (Japan), but they differed significantly from those from New Zealand. Keywords: age, alfonsino, Beryx splendens, growth, Indian Ocean African Journal of Marine Science 2006, 28 (1): 33–40

Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens from South-West Indian Ocean seamounts were studied based on whole otolith readings. Ages of the fish under study ranged between one year and 14 years (15.5–43.5cm fork length). Age distribution was related to depth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for males were L&#8734= 49.1cm, K = 0.099 year–1 and t0 = –4.11 years, and L&#8734 = 57.1cm, K = 0.081 year–1 and t0 = –4.16 years for females, obtained by length-age pair values. For all individuals the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L&#8734 = 53.5cm, K = 0.085 year–1 and t0 = –4.33 years. There were no differences in the growth parameters between males and females. Also, the growth parameters of the alfonsino under study did not differ between those of alfonsino from New Caledonia and the Izu Islands (Japan), but they differed significantly from those from New Zealand.Keywords: age, alfonsino, Beryx splendens, growth, Indian OceanAfrican Journal of Marine Science 2006, 28(1): 33–40