Title : Estimating the population parameters of Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸ in the Sea of Marmara Topic : Marine Natural resources

The length weight relationship, age, growth and mortality parameters of Mullus surmuletus, were investigated between March ۲۰۱۷ and December ۲۰۱۸ at ۳۴ stations from three different depth contours (۲۰ - ۵۰, ۵۰ - ۱۰۰, ۱۰۰ - ۲۰۰) of the trawl net in the Sea of Marmara. Sampling was carried out with bottom trawls according to the Mediterranean International Bottom Surveys (MEDITS) standards. The average speed was ۳ miles per hour and the duration was ۳۰ minutes. The total length of females ranged from ۱۲.۰ cm to ۲۱.۵ cm (۱۸.۹ g to ۱۱۳.۷ g) and of males from ۱۰.۵ cm to ۱۷.۸ cm (۱۱.۸ g to ۵۷.۴ g). The length-weight relationship was W=۰.۰۱۲۷*L۲.۹۴. The age data derived from otoliths readings were used to estimate the growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation. The growth parameters were calculated as L∞=۲۴.۵۸ cm K=۰.۱۸ year-۱, t۰=-۱.۹۴ year. The maximum age was ۶. Mortality parameters were determined as natural mortality (M) ۰.۴۵ yıl-۱, total mortality (Z) ۱.۹۰ yıl-۱, fisheries mortality (F) ۱.۴۵ yıl-۱, respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) was ۰.۷۶ yıl-۱. It was found that there is fishing pressure on the stock considering the exploitation rate calculated in the Marmara Sea.

Keywords:

Exploitation , stock , Red mullet , Marmara Sea