Population structure and fisheries characteristics of the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus from Matrouh fishing area, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

Hassanien, Eman M.; Mehanna, Sahar F.

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2022.246450

Population structure and fisheries characteristics of the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus from Matrouh fishing area, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2022.246450

Abstract

Population dynamic parameters of the striped red mullet, Mullus surmuletus caught by trammel nets operating in Matrouh fishing area, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt were studied. Samples (n = 1153) were collected between May 2020 and April 2021 and ranged from 9.1 to 30 cm in total length and from 15 to 325 g in weight. The length and weight relationship was W = 0.011 L^3.028with r² = 0.98. Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy model were L∞ = 34.91 cm, K= 0.26 year^-1 and t₀ = -0.77 year. Estimates of total (Z), natural (M) and fishing (F) mortalities were 1.48, 0.55 and 0.93, respectively and the estimated exploitation ratio was 0.63 indicating that the resource is being overexploited in this area. The estimated length at first capture (Lc = 13.74 cm) was found to be less than the estimated length at first sexual maturity (Lm = 15.35 cm), indicating that this species didn’t have the chance to spawn at least once in the fishery before being fished. It’s our suggestion, that according to first-maturity length results, the minimum legal size MLS regulation should be revised to be at least above 16 cm.

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