Le merlu des cotes nord de la Tunisie: Etude economique et biologique (reproduction, sex-ratio et repartition bathymetrique)

Abstract

For the north of Tunisia, as for the south, the biometric and meristic characters of the Merluccius correspond with those of Merluccius merluccius mediterraneus. The merlu is captured during the whole year by trawls and only during spring with gill nets. The female measure 29 to 38 cm and the male 23 to 28 cm when they attain sexual maturity for the first time. Breeding takes place throughout the whole year, with a main period in winter and a secondary one in summer. Certain individuals of large size seem to breed in spring. The proportion of female is higher than that of male except in depths of 100 to 200 metres, where male are more abundant. It was found that the youngest individuals live in very deep waters and then migrate towards the coast. As they increase in size they tend to migrate to greater depths.