Precision and bias in the age determination of blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou (Risso, 1810), within and between age-readers

Age based assessment forms the basis of management advice for the heavily exploited combined stock of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) in the Northeast Atlantic. However, little historic attention has been given to the reliability of age estimates gathered from several nations involved in this assessment. Using recognised graphical and statistical approaches, bias and precision was investigated for experienced age-readers of blue whiting. Significant linear bias was found to exist between age-readers, with ages differing, on average, by 1 year for important year classes. Indications are that spawning checks and split rings affect the interpretation of annuli for some age-readers. An experience gradient became evident during the analysis; more experienced age-readers had greater levels of precision. Within reader precision was found to be higher than between reader precision; however, within reader bias was also evident with two out of three age-readers systematically revising ages downwards when re-ageing otoliths. Results indicate that differences exist on a limited international level for the age determination of blue whiting. This issue now needs to be addressed by the scientific community.