Distribution of <i>Mullus barbatus</i> and <i>M. surmuletus</i> (Osteichthyes: Perciformes) in the Mediterranean continental shelf: implications for management

Abstract

SUMMARY: The present work attempts to study the spatio-temporal distribution of Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus in the Mediterranean Sea by using a time series of data from an international bottom trawl survey that covered a wide area of the Mediterranean Sea. The experimental surveys were accomplished annually from 1994 to 2000 on approximately 1000 pre-defined sampling stations distributed in 15 major areas. Selection of stations was based on a depth-stratified random sampling scheme that included five depth strata: 10-50, 50-100, 100-200, 200-500 and 500-800 m. The examined species were found throughout the studied region, mostly in depths down to 200 m. Abundance differences among major areas were found to be statistically significant and were attributed to the different exploitation patterns, as well as the different abiotic and biotic conditions prevailing in each area. Although both species undergo high fishing pressure, results did not demonstrate any decreasing trends in their abundance indices suggesting the existence of a good stock-recruitment relationship over the studied period. However, the dominance of young fish that has been found, makes the stocks highly vulnerable to recruitment changes; hence protection of spawning and nursery areas seems to be essential for their conservation.

Geographic isolation and larval dispersal shape seascape genetic patterns differently according to spatial scale

“…The striped red mullet is a demersal fish species inhabiting coastal shelf ecosystems from 0 to ~100 m depth. This species is widely distributed in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, from the British Isles in the North to Senegal in the South, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea (Tserpes et al., 2002). It is among the most economically valuable species in the Mediterranean Sea.…”

Trawling disturbance on benthic ecosystems and consequences on commercial species: a northwestern Mediterranean case study

“…4C), which are composed mainly of red mullet recruits (Demestre et al 1997, Martín et al 1999. Though the red mullet population could apparently tolerate this level of exploitation due to its high turnover rate, the yield per recruit shows evidence of overexploitation (Demestre et al 1997) and this dominance of young specimens in landings makes the stock highly vulnerable to recruitment changes (Tserpes et al 2002). Therefore, it would be advisable to protect red mullet nursery and spawning areas.…”

“…Red mullet are an important commercial species in the Mediterranean, being one of the main target species for trawling fleets (Caddy 1993, Tserpes et al 2002. In this case, the red mullet life cycle drives the fleet dynamics, as the highest fishing effort coincides with the highest landings (Fig.…”

Health and reproduction of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, in the western Mediterranean Sea

“…This species is an important component of the Mediterranean demersal resources exploited by bottom trawling and smallscale fisheries (Fischer et al, 1987;Tserpes et al, 2002). The stocks of M. barbatus are highly vulnerable to recruitment changes (Tserpes et al, 2002) and all stocks in the Mediterranean Sea are currently considered overexploited (FAO, 2012).…”

“…This species is an important component of the Mediterranean demersal resources exploited by bottom trawling and smallscale fisheries (Fischer et al, 1987;Tserpes et al, 2002). The stocks of M. barbatus are highly vulnerable to recruitment changes (Tserpes et al, 2002) and all stocks in the Mediterranean Sea are currently considered overexploited (FAO, 2012). Despite the importance of energy reserves in estimating the productivity of exploited populations, the lipid content of M. barbatus has rarely been considered in the context of fishery ecology (Lloret et al, 2005(Lloret et al, , 2007Roncarati et al, 2012).…”