Age, Growth, Maturation, and Mortality of Red Mullet Mullus barbatus (Mullidae) of Crimea, the Black Sea

The work examines the sex and size-age structure, growth, dynamics of maturation, and mortality of red mullet Mullus barbatus from the Crimean water area. Ratio of sexes in the M. barbatus catches is shifted toward females (1 : 0.72). The maximum total length and maximum age is 21.4 cm and 6 years old in females and 15.8 cm and 4 years old in males. Pronounced differences have been established between sexes with respect to growth. Values of parameters were calculated of the von Bertalanffy equation: theoretical maximum lengrh of 29.8 cm, mass (weight) of 191 g, and growth coefficient of 0.15 year(-1) for females and 22.8 cm, 108 g, and 0.16 year(-1) for males. Maturity is attained at total length of 10.83 cm in 50% of females and 9.73 cm in 50% of males at the age of one year old. Coefficients of the total, natural, and fishing mortality are 1.21, 0.39, and 0.82 year(-1) in females and 1.60, 0.53, and 1.07 year(-1) in males, respectively. Exploitation rate in both sexes is 0.65, which corresponds to overfishing pressure. Growth rate during the initial (first) years of life is the most variable characteristic of M. barbatus life cycle; its values in the studied Crimean water area are lower compared to the Mediterranean.