Growth in the northern stone crab Lithodes maja Linnaeus, 1758 (Decapoda: Anomura: Lithodidae), a potential fishery target, in the laboratory

TL;DR: Growth rate did not differ significantly among early juvenile, males, or females, and therefore appeared linear across the size range examined, suggesting that L. maja may be more vulnerable to fisheries overexploitation.

Abstract: \n Data are presented on growth in early juvenile (N = 36; 2.05–3.95 mm carapace length) Lithodes maja Linnaeus, 1758 reared at 6 °C in the laboratory, and on growth in males (N = 24; 45.9–113.3 mm carapace length) and females (N = 9; 61.0–81.3 mm carapace length) maintained at 6 °C in the laboratory. Growth rate did not differ significantly among early juvenile, males, or females, and therefore appeared linear across the size range examined. Intermoult period increased with increasing size. Growth and intermoult period models were combined to estimate size at age. Age at maturity appears greater in L. maja than in other species of Lithodes, suggesting that L. maja may be more vulnerable to fisheries overexploitation.