Several jaw malformations are common in cultured finfish larvae. Hatchery-reared yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) larvae were cleared and stained to examine cartilage and bone structure of the jaw. One malformation, characterised by a lowered hyoid arch, was present in kingfish larvae on days 4 and 8 post-hatching, but not on day 12. A different malformation was present in larvae on day 16, typified by abnormal positioning of the lower jaw and hyoid arch, and breakage of the Meckel' s cartilage. Evidence of jaw malformations as early as day 4 suggests that broodstock nutrition may be a factor in the jaw malformation of kingfish larvae, but other potential causes are environmental factors in culture and larval nutrition.

No abstract

Seasonal changes in ovarian activity were investigated in New Zealand turbot Colistium nudipinnis (Waite 1910) and brill Colistium guntheri (Hutton 1873), collected by commercial trawlers along the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Both species demonstrated group synchronous oocyte development, with a capacity for multiple ovulations within a reproductive season. During a 17-h trawl survey, ovulated turbot were caught between 1500 and 2030 h, indicating a daily spawning rhythm. The turbot and brill spawning seasons were prolonged (late autumn to mid summer). A protracted spawning season confers some advantages in aquaculture.

New Zealand turbot Colistium nudipinnis (Waite 1910) and brill Colistium guntheri (Hutton 1873) were studied to assess their potential for aquaculture development. The reproductive cycle of wild ®sh showed a long spawning season from winter to summer, during which it is possible to obtain gametes. Both species have a diurnal ovulatory cycle, and gamete collection, by stripping and fertilizing at sea, was most successful within 2±3 h before and after sunset. Male reproductive anatomy suggests that these¯at®sh spawn in close proximity and that pair formation is highly likely. The eggs of both species have multiple oil droplets, turbot eggs being slightly larger (0.99 mm diameter) with more droplets (18±55) than brill eggs (0.97 mm, 13±26 droplets). Hatching occurred approximately 84 h after fertilization at 14°C. Newly hatched turbot averaged 2.2 mm in length, and brill averaged 2.1 mm. First feeding began 4 days post-hatch (DPH). During larval rearing, rotifers were replaced by Artemia nauplii at 10 DPH. Metamorphosis commenced at 12±15 DPH and was completed and the larvae settled by 45 DPH. Weaning to inert foods began at 20±22 DPH (50 mg weight) and was completed by 57 DPH. Survival of turbot was 22.8% from fertilized egg to hatching, 7.3% through incubation to 22 DPH and 2.1% through incubation to fully weaned juveniles. Weaning success for turbot from metamorphosis to 57 DPH was 31.5%.

Brill (Colistium guntheri) and turbot (C. nudipinnis) were aged by counting opaque growth zones in whole and sectioned otoliths. Zones counts from whole otoliths under-estimated age compared with counts from thin otolith sections. Other species of flatfish that have previously been aged from whole otoliths should be re-examined for evidence of age under-estimation, which may be common in species with thick otoliths. Marginal analysis of thin sections supported the hypothesis that one translucent and one opaque zone are formed each year in brill aged 5–10-years old. Marginal analyses for brill greater than 10 years of age, and for turbot, were inconclusive. However, 2+ and 3+ captive-reared turbot deposited the expected number of opaque zones from hatching. Both species grow rapidly for the first three years of life before growth slows appreciably. Turbot grow faster and larger than brill, and females grow faster and larger than males in both species. Growth is minimal in fish older than five years. Maximum observed ages were 21 years for brill and 16 years for turbot.