How Old is That Fish?

Ever wondered how old a fish is? Check out this quick video to learn how scientists age fish and why it is important:

Now it can get more complicated than this depending on the species you look at (particularly with tropical fishes, which don't undergo those strong seasonal temperature changes, or with fish that get to really high ages), but that is the general idea!


Wanna try it yourself? You can play NOAA's interactive fish-ageing game at: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/refm/age/interactive.htm


Wanna learn more? Here are a few links:
    http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/otolith/english/age_validation.htm
    http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/fish/age-growth-lab/aging-fish-otoliths/
    http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/our-science/fisheries-information/ageing-fish.aspx
    http://fishconnectivity.cbl.umces.edu/research/otolithmanual