Growth and stock differentiation of kingklip (<i>Genypterus capensis</i>) on the south-east coast of South Africa

Abstract

Much of the southern African kingklip Genypterus capensis catch is derived from the south-east coast, and the growth rate of the species from this area is presented. Females grew faster than males after attainment of maturity (± 60 cm L_t) and reached a greater age. The otoliths, on which this growth study was based, increase in length in relation to fish length in a diphasic, linear manner, growth of the otolith slowing down after maturity. From stock differentiation studies, on the basis of otolith morphology and growth rate, it is concluded that the south-east stock (that at the eastem side of the Agulhas Bank) is a third subpopulation of the species and that the stock on the western side of the Bank may well be too. There was no difference in the number of vertebrae between the southeast stock and the previously recorded Cape stock.