10 and 30 cm TL, with a maximum at 13–14 cm TL. The mean values are 14.84
(Æ2.53 SD) cm TL (MEDITS surveys).
Sexual maturation begins in spring (in early summer most are mature individuals). Spawning occurs from March to June, and larvae are found in the plankton
during June–July in the upper levels of the water column (Aguirre 2000 and
references therein). The recruitment to fishery is in autumn (Suau and Vives
1957). The size at first maturity is around 13 cm TL at an age of 1.3 years
(STECF 2015).
Most of the species consumed by M. barbatus are associated mainly with detritus,
silts, and muds. Gharbi and Ktari (1979) found that, in M. barbatus diet, small
polychaetes and crustaceans play an important role in the feeding of juveniles while
larger crustaceans (decapods), mollusks, and polychaetes are the basis of the essential diet of adults (Aguirre 2000 and references therein). M. barbatus is characterized
by having barbels with greater structural complexity and higher density of taste buds
than M. surmuletus, a sympatric species of the same genus. Studies suggest the
existence of adaptive morphological and anatomical characteristics that allow
M. barbatus to exploiter sources from muddy and turbid bottoms better than its
congeneric species that prefer more transparent and shallower waters (Lombarte and
Aguirre 1997).
In Alboran, Mullus barbatus are among the most important target species for the
trawl fisheries. It is largely exploited in all the trawlable areas, both sandy and
muddy bottoms mainly by trawlers on the shelf and by small-scale fisheries in
particular trammel nets (about 12% of the catches). The amount of discards reported
is very low and considered to be negligible with the highest percentage in the catch
of 3% in 2016 and an average of 1% throughout the years (STECF 2008). Over the
period 2002–2017, annual landings for trawl fisheries oscillated between 101 and
211 tons, respectively, with maximum landings in 2017 (Fig. 18.29). Landing sizes
range between 7 and 30 cm (2002–2017), maximum between 13 and 15 cm TL. The
medium values are 14.86 (Æ3.31 SD) cm TL.
0
50
100
150
200
250
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Tons
Fig. 18.29 Mullus barbatus annual landings (in tons) by trawl fishery through historical series
analyzed (2002–2017) in GSA 01
616
M. González Aguilar et al.
(Æ2.53 SD) cm TL (MEDITS surveys).
Sexual maturation begins in spring (in early summer most are mature individuals). Spawning occurs from March to June, and larvae are found in the plankton
during June–July in the upper levels of the water column (Aguirre 2000 and
references therein). The recruitment to fishery is in autumn (Suau and Vives
1957). The size at first maturity is around 13 cm TL at an age of 1.3 years
(STECF 2015).
Most of the species consumed by M. barbatus are associated mainly with detritus,
silts, and muds. Gharbi and Ktari (1979) found that, in M. barbatus diet, small
polychaetes and crustaceans play an important role in the feeding of juveniles while
larger crustaceans (decapods), mollusks, and polychaetes are the basis of the essential diet of adults (Aguirre 2000 and references therein). M. barbatus is characterized
by having barbels with greater structural complexity and higher density of taste buds
than M. surmuletus, a sympatric species of the same genus. Studies suggest the
existence of adaptive morphological and anatomical characteristics that allow
M. barbatus to exploiter sources from muddy and turbid bottoms better than its
congeneric species that prefer more transparent and shallower waters (Lombarte and
Aguirre 1997).
In Alboran, Mullus barbatus are among the most important target species for the
trawl fisheries. It is largely exploited in all the trawlable areas, both sandy and
muddy bottoms mainly by trawlers on the shelf and by small-scale fisheries in
particular trammel nets (about 12% of the catches). The amount of discards reported
is very low and considered to be negligible with the highest percentage in the catch
of 3% in 2016 and an average of 1% throughout the years (STECF 2008). Over the
period 2002–2017, annual landings for trawl fisheries oscillated between 101 and
211 tons, respectively, with maximum landings in 2017 (Fig. 18.29). Landing sizes
range between 7 and 30 cm (2002–2017), maximum between 13 and 15 cm TL. The
medium values are 14.86 (Æ3.31 SD) cm TL.
0
50
100
150
200
250
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Tons
Fig. 18.29 Mullus barbatus annual landings (in tons) by trawl fishery through historical series
analyzed (2002–2017) in GSA 01
616
M. González Aguilar et al.