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

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 to= -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.