Exploitation patterns of the European hake Merluccius merluccius, red mullet Mullus barbatus and striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the western Mediterranean

The exploitation patterns of three target species (Merluccius merluccius, L. 1758, Mullus barbatus, L. 1758, Mullus surmuletus, L. 1758) of the western Mediterranean demersal fisheries were compared. The study was carried out in five ports along the Italian and Spanish coasts. These three species are fished simultaneously or sequentially by a number of gears, their use during the year being different depending on the area. The trawl catches dominated the landings, both in number and weight, but varied greatly during the year. The size ranges of specimens in the catches were in their major part different among the types of gear. Artisanal methods (gillnet and long line for M. merluccius, trammel net for Mullus spp.), used seasonally, contributed primarily to landings of larger, adult specimens, whereas trawl catches consisted mainly of smaller sized individuals, recently recruited to the fishery. In M. merluccius, individuals of less than 20 cm total length accounted for 80 to 95% of the annual catch in numbers, and between 15 and 60% of the catch in weight, depending on the port. This situation indicates a substantial over-exploitation and a high risk of long-term unsustainability in stock development and production.