2003 Volume 69 Issue 6 Pages 1209-1217
We assessed the ability to discriminate local stocks of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma based on data from five elements (Na, K, P, Ca and Sr) using electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) from the otoliths of 26 adult fish (standard length 339-576 mm) caught at four sites (Rausu, Kushiro, Minami-kayabe and Musashi Bank) around Hokkaido, Japan in 1998 and 1999. To compare the elemental compositions, the otolith formation periods were arranged based on the annual rings to allow analysis of comparative winter periods. Elemental concentrations of Na and K remained at a stable level throughout the otolith development. The pattern of Sr concentration differed for each individual. The 1999 winter samples collected from Kushiro and Minami-kayabe distributed similarly and were discriminated at a near-significant level from samples at Rausu. These results indicate that we might be able to discriminate the local Nemuro and Pacific stocks of walleye pollock spawned around Hokkaido using their otolith elements by comparing portions of otoliths formed in the same year.
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