Seasonal variation in mortality of red mullet (<em>Mullus barbatus</em>) escaping from codends of three different sizes in the Aegean Sea

F. Ozan Düzbastılar; Michael Breen; Celalettin Aydın; Hüseyin Özbilgin; Aytaç Özgül; Ali Ulaş; Gülnur Metin; Benal Gül; Altan Lök

doi:10.3989/scimar.04600.19A

Authors

F. Ozan Düzbastılar Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5376-7198
Michael Breen Institute of Marine Research https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1082-1043
Celalettin Aydın Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8237-6121
Hüseyin Özbilgin Mersin University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7277-0608
Aytaç Özgül Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7706-9012
Ali Ulaş Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8012-2769
Gülnur Metin Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5807-5839
Benal Gül İstanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8544-7343
Altan Lök Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0751-0620

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04600.19A

Keywords:

escape mortality, bottom trawl, size-related mortality, seasonal variation, mesh size, mesh shape, Aegean Sea

Abstract

This study was performed off the southern coast of Yassıca Island in the Izmir Bay on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea to investigate the mortality of red mullet (Mullus barbatus, Mullidae) escaping through 40-mm square-mesh and 44- and 50-mm diamond-mesh codends attached to a conventional demersal trawl net. In total, 48 replicate experimental hauls were performed in the summer and winter of 2011 and 2012. Mean escape mortality for all hauls in winter (33.2%±6.51) was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than that in summer (26.5%±6.19). Furthermore, mortality was also highest among the smallest fish, particularly during winter. Irrespective of season, the escape mortality of red mullet was lowest from the 40-mm square-mesh codend (mean, 25.5%±4.58). These observations emphasize the importance of investigating the survival potential of escaping fish when considering the benefits of different selective devices in the management of a fishery.

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