Mortality of red mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus (Linnaeus., 1758) in Western Algerian coasts

Red mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a demersal species. It is an important commercial fish in Mediterranean coasts of Algeria, as a target of trawl fishery. Annual landings of this species are approximately 17.3 % of the total landings of demersal fishes species (DPRH, 2010). Of a total of 1679 specimens, 1150 females and 529 males were captured in 2009; The range of the length is between 83 to 277 mm. Fishing of red mullet occurs at depth of 0-50 m on sandy bottoms. The catch is comprised on 5 cohorts, but the average sizes of our fish sample, that are the most exploited, are aged between 0-5 years. The parameters of the Von Bertalanffy growth equation obtained for both sex were L∞ = 28.88cm, k = 0.59 cm / year, and to = 0 years. The size of the first capture is 11.2 cm. Total, natural and fishing Mortalities were respectively 1.34; 0.76 and 0.58 year-1; while exploitation rate is about 0.43. It would be a preserved stock