Stock Assessment Form Demersal species. Red mullet GSA7. Reference year: 2004-2015. Reporting year: 2016

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, 2014 and 2015, 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 228 tons (351 tons in 2015) and the French trawlers have been dominating the fishery, as they represent 83% of the catches (189 tons) on the period. After 2009, because of the large decline of small pelagic fish species in the area, the French 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 50%. From a maximum number of 121 trawlers in 2004, the French fleet catching red mullet is nowadays composed by 58 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 14 and 16 cm, respectively and the minimum length caught is about 5 cm. Catch is mainly composed by individuals of age 0, 1 and 2, while the oldest age class (3+ group) is poorly represented. In GSA 07, the trawl fishery is a multi-specific fishery. In addition to M. barbatus, the following species can represent important catches: Merluccius merluccius, Lophius sp., Pagellus sp., Trachurus sp., Mullus surmuletus, Octopus vulgaris, Eledone sp., Scyliorhinus canicula, G. melastomus, Trachinus sp., Triglidae, Scorpaena sp., Raja sp. The stock is in a High overfishing status with a relative high biomass and punctually higher recruitments (2006, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2015). The exploitation level is currently above the level estimated to be sustainable since the referent point F0.1 is equal to 0.35 and current fishing mortality (Fcurrent) to 1.13. The current fishing mortality is the lowest of the series and the spawning stock biomass currently follows an upward trend with signs of stabilization in 2014-2015. The exploitation is mainly concentrated on young individuals (age 0-2). Moreover 75% of the recruitment is mature. The current biomass (2015) is above the 66th percentile, however computed over a relatively short time-period (2004-2015)