Report of the Horse Mackerel (Scad) Age Determination Workshop

In accordance with the terms of a contract with the Commission of the European Communities, the United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (the Contractor) convened a Horse Mackerel (Scad) Age Determination Workshop at the Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft, during the period 9-14 April 1987. The objectives of the Workshop were:

• To compare otolith interpretation methods used by different workers involved in horse mackerel age determination in the north-east Atlantic; 
• To relate growth rates based on age determinations from otoliths to growth rates based on length composition analyses, and examine whether length composition analyses can be used as a basis for age validation; and
• To attempt to reach agreement on a standard method of otolith interpretation.