Striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus, Linnaeus, 1758) from Rafraf - Sidi Ali Mekki region (Bizerte): length-weight relationship and histological assessment of gonad maturation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the gonadal changes of striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758) in Rafraf – Sidi Ali Mekki region in Tunisia. A total of 243 specimens were collected monthly between March 2014 and February 2015. Fulton’s condition factor (K) and the length-weight parameters were estimated. There was correlation between the fish total length and weight (R²: 0.75). The K values ranged between 0.93 and 3.38. The values of b parameter ranged from 3.18. Goandosomatic and hepatosomatic index show maximum values during April. Different stages in females and in males were observed according to gonadal development.