Determinacy of fecundity in sole (Solea solea) from the Bristol Channel

Abstract

Ovaries of the common sole (Solea solea (Linnaeus)) were collected prior to, or at the beginning of, spawning from the spawning grounds in the Bristol Channel. Size frequency distributions of oocytes over 100 μm are presented. They clearly show a break in the size frequency distributions, at about 170 μm, indicating that the production of new oocytes to be spawned that season had ceased. It indicates that the sole is a determinate spawner and that, at least for this population, an annual potential fecundity can be measured. Estimated annual fecundity at length of Bristol Channel sole is calculated, and values are compared with those found for sole from the North Sea, eastern English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.