(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - flounder, yellowtail
OTHER COMMON NAMES - yellowtail, rusty dab, sole, queue jaune, seriole and Fr., limande a queue jaune
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Vertebrata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Pleuronectiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Pleuronectidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Limanda,
SPECIES AND SSP - ferruginea,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Limanda ferruginea
AUTHORITY - Storer
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 258 and 1717
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Existing, FMP exists
Commercial/consumption
Commercial
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 258
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
There is a directed fishery for yellowtail flounder by Canadian otter
trawlers on the Grand Bank but a large number are also caught as a by-catch,
especially when fishing for American plaice. The small mouth prevents any
but the largest being caught on line trawls.*258*
Commercial landings in 1979 and 1980 were of the order of 21,000 and 15,000
t, approximately half the 1970-72 landings. The fishery is under quota
management.*258*
The yellowtail is a valued food fish; it is usually filleted and may be sold
fresh but is commonly frozen and exported.*258*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine UB2
Marine UB3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 258
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
An offshore species living on sand or sand and mud bottoms on shallow-water
banks at depths of 27-364 m, but usually in the 37-91 m depth range. On
the Scotian Shelf the preferred temperature range was 2-6 degrees C. On
Grand Bank greatest concentrations were found at depths of 57-64 m and
temperatures of 3.1-4.8 degrees C. Seasonal movements consist mainly of
movements into shallower water in the spring and back to deeper waters in
the fall and early winter.*258*
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 258
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Polychaetes Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Microcrustaceans Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Not Specified
General Arthropods Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 258
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
The yellowtail has a small mouth which restricts the choice of food.
Studies indicate they feed mainly on polchaete worms and amphipods on the
Grand Bank but also eat smaller quantities of other crustacenas such as
shrimps, cumaceans, isopods and other invertebrates, and very small amounts
of fish particularly sand lance and capelin.*258*
Food studies of yellowtail flounder off Massachusetts showed that amphipods,
polychaetes, and cumaceans were important throughout the year but cumaceans
were most important in spring.*258*
Capture rates by research vessels indicated that about twice as many
yellowtails were caught at night as in daytime. Since the European species,
Limanda limanda, remains partially buried in sand during the day and becomes
an active feeder at night, it has been assumed that the western Atlantic
yellowtail also feeds at night, thus accounting for higher capture rates.
However, studies by researchers off southern New England and Georges Bank
led them to conclude that the yellowtail was a daytime feeder, having a peak
in stomach content weight in late afternoon and early evening.*258*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
G
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 258
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
An offshore species living on sand or sand and mud bottoms on shallow-water
banks at depths of 27-364 m, but usually in the 37-91 m depth range. On
the Scotian Shelf the preferred temperature range was 2-6 degrees C and
preferred salinity range 32-33 ppt. On
Grand Bank greatest concentrations were found at depths of 57-64 m and
temperatures of 3.1-4.8 degrees C. Seasonal movements consist mainly of
movements into shallower water in the spring and back to deeper waters in
the fall and early winter.*258*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Body ovate, strongly laterally compressed. Head relatively small, upper
margin of head with a distinct notch above eye, i.e. dorsal profile of head
concave; mouth small, conical, in a single series in each jaw; eyes
moderatley large. Gill rakers long, weak, 10-12 on lower arch.
Branchiostegals 7. Fins: soft rayed; dorsal 73-91, originating above
middle of eye and terminating at base of caudal peduncle; caudal somewhat
rounded; anal 51-68, (a short, sharp forwardly directed preanal spine),
originating under pectoral fin and terminating on caudal peduncle below end
of dorsal; pelvics 6, brush-like in shape; pectorals 10, behind pelvics.
Scales small, ctenoid on eyed side, cycloid on blind side, 88-100 in lateral
line. Lateral line distinctly arched above pectoral fin. Vertebrae 40-45.
Size of yellowtails caught commercially about 30 cm long. Color: eyed or
upper side reddish brown to olive green with many irregular, rusty-red
spots; blind side white with lemon yellow coloring before caudal fin and at
bases of dorsal and anal fins.*258*
REPRODUCTION:
Spawning occurs on or near the bottom in spring to summer depending on the
latitude: April to June in New England waters, May to July in Canadian
waters. Peak spawning periods are about mid-May off New England and mid to
late June on Grand Bank. On the Scotian Shelf spawning fish were
concentrated in July; major spawning concentrations were on Western Bank and
southern Sable Island Bank. In western Gulf of Maine to southern New
England spawning may occur from March to September.*258*
Yellowtail flounder produce large numbers of small eggs. The number of eggs
per female was calculated to range from 350,000 to 4,570,000. The number of
eggs per female was positively correlated with length and to a lesser extent
with age. A female 39 cm long may deposit 1 million eggs, a female 45 cm
long 2 million eggs. The eggs are deposited on or near the bottom,
fertilized, and float to the surface layers, where they drift about during
development.*258*
The fertilized eggs are 0.8-0.9 mm in diameter and may hatch in about 5 d at
10.0-11.1 degrees C. The young are 2.0-3.5 mm (notochord length) on
hatching and 11.6-16.0 mm SL at transformation.*258*
BEHAVIOR:
Capture rates by research vessels indicated that about twice as many
yellowtails were caught at night as in daytime. Since the European species,
Limanda limanda, remains partially buried in sand during the day and becomes
an active feeder at night, it has been assumed that the western Atlantic
yellowtail also feeds at night, thus accounting for higher capture rates.
However, studies by researchers off southern New England and Georges Bank
led them to conclude that the yellowtail was a daytime feeder, having a peak
in stomach content weight in late afternoon and early evening.*258*
Seasonal movements consist mainly of movements into shallower water in
spring and back to deeper waters in the fall and early winter.*258*
LIMITING FACTORS:
Predation and competition. Yellowtail flounders are undoubtedly eaten by
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
larger fishes such as cod, but details of predation are apparently lacking.
In New England waters researchers have documented predation by bluefish
(Pomatomus saltatrix) on yellowtails, often resulting in mutilated
flounders, but the bluefish is uncommon in Canadian waters and its predation
effects are slight. There is some competition for food between yellowtail
and plaice, especially for polychaete worms and amphipods, but in general
plaice eat larger food items and live at greater depths than
yellowtails.*258*
Parasites and disease. Many species of parasites have been reported from
the yellowtail flounder. Researchers reported on metazoan parasites
infecting flatfishes, including the yellowtail. Researchers reported six
species of digenetic trematodes from the intestinal tract of yellowtails
caught in the Gulf of St Lawrence and off the Scotian Shelf. The degrees of
differential infection did not suggest the existence of separate stocks.
Light infection by blood parasites was detected in specimens from the
Labrador-Newfoundland area.*258*
A summary of parasites found in yellowtail flounder was given by
researchers, which included the following species: 3 protozoans, 15
trematodes, 5 cestodes, 6 nematodes, and 2 acanthocephalans. Researchers
reported a fungus infection (Ichthyophonus) from yellowtail caught on Sable
Island Bank. The disease was evident as white cysts on the liver and other
internal organs.*258*
POPULATION ATTRIBUTES:
Growth. Age determinations are made by otolith examination, as for most
flatfishes. Growth rates vary depending on such factors as water
temperatures and available food but it is a relatively fast-growing species.
In general, growth is slower on the Grand Bank and Scotian Shelf than in the
Georges Bank-Cape Cod region. On the Grand Bank, the commercial catch is
made up of fish ages 4-10 yr, mostly 6-8 yr. Ages to 12 have been recorded
but are now rare. In contrast, yellowtail caught off southern New England
are mainly 3 or 4 yr old and may enter the fishery at age 2. On average,
yellowtail flounder in Canadian waters measure 27 cm at age 4, 33 cm at age
5, 37.5 cm at age 6, 41 cm at age 7, and 43 cm at age 8. Females grow
slightly faster than males, especially after age 6. The maximum length
attained is 62.7 cm off Newfoundland and 59.0 (female) on Sable Island
Bank.*258*
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: March
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Breeding/Spawning Season: September
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
Periodicity: Other (specify in comments)
COMMENTS ON LIFE HISTORY -
In reference to periodicity.
Capture rates by research vessels indicated that about twice as many
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
yellowtails were caught at night as in daytime. Since the European species,
Limanda limanda, remains partially buried in sand during the day and becomes
an active feeder at night, it has been assumed that the western Atlantic
yellowtail also feeds at night, thus accounting for higher capture rates.
However, studies by researchers off southern New England and Georges Bank
led them to conclude that the yellowtail was a daytime feeder, having a peak
in stomach content weight in late afternoon and early evening.*258*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 258
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
Existing Regulating harvest - setting bag/creel limits
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 258
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
There is a directed fishery for yellowtail flounder by Canadian otter
trawlers on the Grand Bank but a large number are also caught as a by-catch,
especially when fishing for American plaice. The small mouth prevents any
but the largest being caught on line trawls.*258*
Commercial landing in 1979 and 1980 were of the order of 21,000 and 15,000
t, approximately half the 1970-72 landings. The fishery is under quota
management.*258*
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species flounder, yellowtail
Species Id M010125
Date 27 AUG 96
References
References - 1