Stock Assessment Form Demersal species. Red mullet GSA7. Reference year: 2004-2014. Reporting year: 2015.

In the Gulf of Lions (GSA 7), red mullet is exploited by both French and Spanish trawlers. Information on French gillnetters is only available for 2011, 2013 and 2014, but although it is suspected that they have been fishing red mullet in the past, no data is available to quantify their catches. According to official statistics, during this period the total annual landings have oscillated around an average value of 216 tons and the French trawlers have been dominating the fishery, as they represent 82% of the catches (177 tons) on the period. After 2009, because of the large decline of small pelagic fish species in the area, the trawlers fishing small pelagic have diverted their effort on demersal species, this can explain the high levels of catches since 2010. Between 2004 and 2014, the number of French trawlers operating in the GSA 07 has decreased by 52%. From a maximum number of 121 trawlers in 2004, the French fleet catching red mullet is nowadays composed by 57 units. This follows management measures to reduce the number of boats. The mean modal lengths in the catches of the French and Spanish trawlers are 13.7 and 15 cm, respectively and the length at first capture is about 5 cm. Catch is mainly composed by individuals of age 0, 1 and 2 (Figure 6.1.3-2), while the oldest age class (4+ group) is poorly represented. In GSA 07, the trawl fishery is a multi-specific fishery. In addition to M. barbatus, the following species can be considered important by-catches: Merluccius merluccius, Lophius sp., Pagellus sp., Trachurus sp., Mullus surmuletus, Octopus vulgaris, Eledone sp., Scyliorhinus canicula, G. melastomus, Trachinus sp., Triglidae, Scorpaena sp