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

Authors

  • George Tserpes Institute of Marine Biology of Crete
  • Fabio Fiorentino Istituto di ricerche sulle Risorse Marine a l’Ambiente (IRMA-CNR)
  • Dino Levi Istituto di ricerche sulle Risorse Marine a l’Ambiente (IRMA-CNR)
  • Angelo Cau Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia
  • Matteo Murenu Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia
  • Ada Zamboni Dipartimento per lo Studio della Terra e delle sue Risorse, Laboratori di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Animale
  • Costas Papaconstantinou National Centre for Marine Research

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2002.66s239

Keywords:

red mullet, striped red mullet, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, distribution, Mediterranean

Abstract


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.

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Published

2002-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Tserpes G, Fiorentino F, Levi D, Cau A, Murenu M, Zamboni A, Papaconstantinou C. Distribution of Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus (Osteichthyes: Perciformes) in the Mediterranean continental shelf: implications for management. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2002Jun.30 [cited 2024Mar.28];66(S2):39-54. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/604

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