Age cohort analysis of red mullet, Mullus barbatus (L.,1758) (Pices : Mullidae), in the Strait of Sicily (GSA 15 & 16)

The exploitation status of red mullet, Mullus barbatus (L., 1758) in the Northern sector of the Strait of Sicily (GSA 15 & 16) was assessed through an age cohort analysis. Data from commercial trawling fisheries were used. The results showed that the resource is in a state of “overfishing”. A reduction of about 40% of the current fishing mortality is suggested to reach the target reference point F0.1.Data was derived from indirect (fisheries monitoring) sources from EU Data Collection Framework, financed from MiPAAF and EC.peer-reviewe