Studies on southern Australian abalone (genus Haliotis) XIV. Growth of H. laevigata on Eyre Peninsula

Abstract

The growth rate of Haliotis laevigata Donovan was examined at 6 sites on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, by mark-recapture experiments and by analysis of length-frequency distributions. Juvenile growth rates were generally linear, and in the range 20 – 40 mm y_-1, whereas growth of older individuals was satisfactorily described by the von Bertalanffy growth curve. The Brody growth coefficient, K, ranged from 0.19 to 0.55 y_-1, and L∞ from 119.5 mm to 186.3 mm according to site. Growth rates tend to decline with decreasing latitude.