The biology of red mullet (Mullus surmuletus linnaeus, 1758) living in northern part of the Marmara sea

In this study, age and sex compositions, age-lenght, age-weight and length- weight relationships, reproduction, and mortality of red mullet {Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758) caught from northern parts of Marmara Sea between February 1997- January 1999 have been investigated. During the this study, 1885 fish aged between 0. and V. were sampled and the percentage of female, male and juvenile was 50.98, 39.42 and 9.60 respectively. Total length of fish ranged from 9.00 to 23.50 cm. The average total length and weight of age groups were 10.69 cm,13.72 g; 13.05 cm, 28.18 g; 15.90 cm, 51.64 g; 17.74 cm, 77.48 g; 19.84 cm, 100.76 g; 21.19 cm, 112.34 g respectively. The growth parameters for all individuals are Loo =32.82 cm, k = 0.228 yr"1, t0= -2.134. The length-weight relationship for all individuals was calculated as W = 0.0089 L 3122. The reproduction periods of red mullet catched from northern parts of the Marmara Sea extended from June to July. The sexualy maturation ageIV for females and males were 2 and 1 and t otal mortality calculated length and from age were Z = 0.37 and Z= 0.40 respectively. Key Words : Mullus surmuletus, growth parameters, reproduction, mortality, The Marmara Sea.