Back-calculated individual growth of long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) in the Barents Sea

Long rough dab, Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricius, 1730), of the Barents Sea shows great individual variation in growth rate and age at maturity. In this paper we compare the mean length-at-age of long rough dab at capture with growth curves back-calculated from digitized otoliths. Back-calculated individual growth did not show any abrupt changes in growth rate that might be associated with maturation. Furthermore, the results suggest a correlation between slow growth, delayed maturation and high expected maximum age. This could explain the indications of Rosa Lee's phenomenon found in the material. This paper shows that the curvilinear relationship, from catch data on length-at-age, may not represent the growth of individual fish. Indications suggest that this may be a result of size-selective mortality, possibly related to maturation.