Trace Element Analysis of Fish Sagittae as an Aid to Stock Identifications: Pink Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) in Western Australian Waters

Abstract

Concentrations of trace elements in the sagittal otoliths of pink snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) from seven locations along the coast of Western Australia were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Canonical variate (discriminant) analyses of the concentrations of eight elements (Na, Mg, Si, P, S, K, Fe, and Sr) from all fish when corrected for fish length showed the pattern of concentrations to be specific to the location of capture of the fish. Trace elements are likely to be irreversibly deposited in the sagittae during growth and should provide an integrated environmental history of each fish. Differences in elemental composition may thus be useful for identifying nonmixing groups of fish that may be regarded as separate stocks for some fisheries management purposes.