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Story: Fishing industry

Removing ear bones

Image
Removing ear bones

The otolith or ear bone of a fish can be measured to determine its age. The bone is cut into cross-sections and the growth rings, like those of a tree, are counted. Here, scientist David Banks removes an otolith from an orange roughy. The students in the background are being trained how to do this, as they are to work as scientific observers on fishing vessels.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1991/1494/7

by John Nicholson

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Fishing industry – The quota system – an evaluation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6365/removing-ear-bones (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 2 March 2009.