Sexual Maturity, Fecundity, Spawning, and Early Life History of Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) off the Pacific Coast of Canada

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Abstract
Analysis of ichthyoplankton surveys and maturity states showed that sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) spawn along the entire Pacific coast of Canada from January through April with peak spawning occurring in February. Spawning took place at depths greater than 300 m all along the continental slope and did not entail a noticeable spawning migration. Fifty percent of females and males spawned for the first time at an age of approximately 5 yr. Length at 50% maturity was approximately 58 cm for females and 52 cm for males. The adult male to female ratio during the spawning seasons of 1980 and 1981 was approximately 1:3 and was 1:1.5 during all other sampling periods. The sex ratio of juveniles was 1:1. Fecundity estimates are described by the equation F = 1.11987FL2.8244. After hatching in March and April, postlarvae moved into the surface waters and were found > 180 km offshore in late March. Juveniles were found in inside waters in July and August, attaining a length of 9 cm by early August. Juveniles may remain in inside waters until maturity when they return to the spawning areas.

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