Age, growth and mortality parameters of Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Mullidae) in Iskenderun Bay, northeastern Mediterranean

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the age, growth, mortality and exploitation of a commercially important fish of northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Mullus barbatus from the Karatas coast of Iskenderun Bay during September 2002 and April 2003. A total of 212 specimens of red mullet were collected by monthly sampling using traditional bottom trawl net by commercial vessel (Coskun Reis, 22m length and 285HP) from 3 stations in three depth contours in ≤20m, 20-50m and 50-100m, respectively. The age of M. barbatus specimens was estimated by examining sagittal otoliths and it found that the age composition varied from I to V age classes. The mean total length and total weight values was calculated as 10.07±1.83cm and 12.04±8.22g, respectively and the calculated length-weight relationship was W=0.0072*L 3.1618 . The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L ¥ = 21.98cm, k = 0.194 year-1 and t o = -1.168 year. The instantaneous rate of total mortality ( Z ) was 1.39, the natural mortality ( M ) was 0.45 and the fishing mortality ( F ) was estimated to be 0.93. The exploitation rate ( E ) was calculated as 0.67 using value of M and F . As a result of the analysis, the population of M. barbatus from the Karatas coast of Iskenderun Bay was exploited over the optimum level because of overfishing pressure.