Quality assurance and age analysis of fish

Last changed: 19 March 2018
Otolith. Photo.

At SLU Aqua, quality assurance is an important part of the progress of age analysis. We aim for cooperation between age readers, between researchers and age readers, on a national and international level. We develop methods for preparing tissues used for age reading. We have procedures for training and educating new staff. We calibrate age analysis results.

  • We work within a network SFAN, SLU Fish Ageing Network.
  • We attend international workgroups and calibration activities, such as ICES.
  • We always use otoliths for age determination, with some exceptions. When possible, we use a complementary tissue (i.e. operculum bones or scales), to gain high quality results.
  • A training program is used for our employees, following Methodological manual for age determination of fish at SLU’s laboratories.
  • We make annual age reading comparisons.
  • We work according to the guidelines recommended in TACADAR's (Towards Accreditation and Certification of Age Determination of Aquatic Resources) final report.
  • At least two age readers share the expertise of each species, to assure continuity and quality.
  • We analyse time series when possible. By analysing strong and weak year classes, we get valuable information on fish populations.
  • A reference library is under construction, with images and species characteristics.

Related pages:

Contact

Carina Jernberg, Head of Unit
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, SLU
carina.jernberg@slu.se, +46 10 478 4025, +46 761-26 80 16

Martina Blass, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Analyst
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of coastal research, SLU
martina.blass@slu.se, +46 10 478 41 18

Magnus Kokkin, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Analyst
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, SLU
magnus.kokkin@slu.se, +46 10 478 42 35

Francesca Vitale, Researcher
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, SLU
francesca.vitale@slu.se, +46 10 478 40 52, +46 761-26 80 43