Berrane, D.

Morris, Jr., J.A.

Potts, J.

English

Aquatic Commons

 Proceedings of the 63rd Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute     November 1 - 5, 2010   San Juan, Puerto Rico 
Age and Growth of Lionfish from the Western North Atlantic 
 
KEY WORDS:  Lionfish, Pterois volitans and P. miles, age, growth, otoliths 
 
JENNIFER C. POTTS1*, DAVID BERRANE1, and JAMES A. MORRIS, JR.2  
1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 USA . 
*Jennifer.Potts@noaa.gov.  2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Sevice, Center 
for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516 USA. 
 
 
Edad y Crecimiento del Pez Leon Pterois volitans del Atlantico Norte Occidental 
 
PALABRAS CLAVE:  Pez león, Pterois volitans and P. miles, crecimiento, edad 
 
 
Âge et la Croissance des Rascasses Volantes de l'Atlantique Nord Ouest 
 
MOTS CLÉS:  Rascasses volantes,  Pterois volitans and P. miles, croissance, âge 
 
EXTENDED ABSTRACT 
An age and growth study of lionfish, Pterois volitans and P. miles, was conducted using sagittal otoliths collected from 
2004-2009 from Onslow Bay, North Carolina.  Specimens were collected primarily by research divers using nets and 
spears.  A few fish were caught on commercial and recreational hook and line gear.  Sagittal otoliths (n = 814) were 
removed from lionfish ranging in size from 90 – 464 mm total length (TL).  When viewed whole, the sagittal otoliths were 
highly opaque making the annuli difficult to discern; therefore, the otoliths needed to be sectioned for age determination. 
Otoliths were relatively small and fragile, and required embedding in epoxy to be sectioned.  Based on marginal increment 
analysis and consistency in radial measurement to the first presumed annulus, the alternating pattern of opaque and 
translucent zones appeared annular in nature.  Annuli counts were adjusted to calendar age based on month of capture and 
formation of the opaque zone.  Thus, lionfish ranged from calendar age 0 to 8 years, and most of the fish (90%) were age 3 
or younger.  Growth was rapid during the first and second year of life, attaining on average 150 mm TL within the first year, 
but also reaching up to 220 mm TL.  During the second year, lionfish averaged 230 mm TL, but were as large as 318 mm 
TL.  The von Bertalanffy growth equation based on observed TL at age is Lt = 455.1(1 – e
-0.32(t + 1.22)).  
Based on this assessment, the earliest back-calculated spawning year is 1998 (n = 1) which corresponds well with the 
first report of lionfish in Onslow Bay, NC which was in 2000.  The lionfish collected for this study are from the early time 
period of their invasion to the southeastern US.  We cannot infer their maximum age at this time.  A specimen from the 
Seattle Aquarium was examined after it had died.  Aquarium personnel estimated the specimen’s age to be 30 years and the 
opaque zone count on the sectioned otolith corroborates the age to be 30 - 33 years old (Figure 1; pers. comm. Charles 
Hutchinson and Delsa Anderl, NOAA/NMFS/Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA).  Coupled with recently 
published reproductive data, we conclude that lionfish can reach sexual maturity within one year.  Lionfish do not appear to 
recruit to hook and line gear often until they attain at least 300 mm TL.  Most of our specimens from the commercial and 
recreational fisheries (13 of 18) were greater than 380 mm TL.  These characteristics may partly explain the rapid establish-
ment of lionfish in the Atlantic.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1.  Thin section from sagittal otolith of a lionfish that was held at the 
Seattle Aquarium.  Age estimated to be 30 - 33 years.  


Age and Growth of Invasive Lionfish in the Western North Atlantic

http://aquaticcommons.org/21255/1/GCFI_63-59.pdf

Age and Growth of Invasive Lionfish in the Western North Atlantic

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