Codend Selectivity of Demersal Trawl with Square Mesh Panel (SMP) for Blunt-snouted mullet (Mullus ponticus Essipov, 1927) in the Southern Black Sea Shores of Türkiye

Abstract

The study was conducted on the Southern Black Sea shores of the Mediterranean Basin and selectivity parameters of the trawl codend (36 mm, 40 mm diamond and 40 mm square mesh panel), were estimated in blunt-snouted mullet (Mullus ponticus, Essipov, 1927) fishing. End of the 12 valid hauls, selectivity parameters for 36 mm diamond (D), 40 mm diamond (D) and 40 mm Square Mesh Panel (SMP) were estimated selection length of 50 % (L50) 11.56 cm, 12.53 cm and 13.56 cm; selection range (SR) 4.88 cm, 5.02 cm and 3.91; selection factor (SF) 0.29, 0.31 and 0.34 respectively. 50 % selectivity length of 36 mm codend was smaller than the legal Minimum Landing Size (MLS=13 cm), 40 mm codend was more nearly MLS but it’s not enough and 40 mm Square Mesh Panel (SMP) on the codend has to use in the bottom trawl fisheries. Catch of small size (juvenile) blunt-snouted mullet will decrease by square mesh panel method must consider in the demersal trawl fishery of Black Sea.