On the Spawning and Nursery Grounds of Bass, Dicentrarchus Labrax, in the Plymouth Area

Abstract

Despite concern over declining catches of bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), and disagreement over the cause, overfishing or erratic year classes (Kennedy & Fitzmaurice, 1972; Holden & Williams, 1974; Kelley, 1979), little is known of the early life history of this fish in the wild. Only occasional post-larvae have been recorded previously in young fish collections off Plymouth (Russell, 1935). These were caught between March and June, 2–24 km offshore and commonly below 20 m. The marine spawning grounds in the Plymouth area are unknown. Although Kennedy & Fitzmaurice (1968) found bass eggs at Splaugh Rock and Youghal Harbour on the south coast of Ireland and Barnabé (1978) observed spawning near the breakwater at Sète in the Gulf of Lions, bass eggs have not previously been found near Plymouth. Hartley (1940) recorded the growth and diet of bass in the Tamar Estuary. He noted that adults were very rare in the estuary which was used only as a nursery ground for this species.