@article {2579,
	title = {Great longevity of speckled hind ( Epinephelus drummondhayi), a deep-water grouper, with novel use of postbomb radiocarbon dating in the Gulf of Mexico},
	journal = {Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences},
	volume = {70},
	year = {2013},
	month = {Jan-08-2013},
	pages = {1131 - 1140},
	abstract = {Growth characteristics are poorly understood for speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a tropical deep-water grouper of economic importance that is considered overfished. Age has been validated for early growth, but the validity of adult age estimates is unknown. A few studies of growth zones in otoliths have revealed maximum age estimates of 15{\textendash}35 years, which have been uncritically assumed as longevity. To answer questions about adult age, bomb radiocarbon dating was used to provide validated age estimates. A novel aspect of this study was use of the postbomb radiocarbon decline period (ca. 1980{\textendash}2004) to age younger fish, an approach that was validated with known-age otoliths. Bomb radiocarbon dating provided valid length-at-age estimates ranging from \~{}5 years to more than 45 years. Age was unexpectedly greater than previous estimates for more than half the fish used in this study, and longevity may approach 60{\textendash}80 years. This study extends the utility of bomb radiocarbon dating by more than 20 years and adds to the growing perspective that deep-water tropical fishes can be long-lived},
	issn = {0706-652X},
	doi = {10.1139/cjfas-2012-0537},
	url = {http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfas-2012-0537},
	author = {Andrews, Allen H. and Barnett, Beverly K. and Allman, Robert J. and Moyer, Ryan P. and Trowbridge, Hannah D. and Gillanders, Bronwyn}
}
