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The exploitation of Grey Mullet Chelon labrosus (Risso) in the south east of Ireland
Fahy, E
Fahy, E
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Date
1979
Publisher
Department of Fisheries and Forestry
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Abstract
Fisheries for grey mullet are widespread on the south coast of Ireland, the majority being small and irregularly operated. The largest, at Wexford in the south-east, is a summer fishery where recent catches are well documented. At Wexford nets of mesh perimeter 18.4 cm are fished as fixed engines by two methods known locally as stake and ring nets. The fish are captured by wedging in a single mesh. Data from the stake nets give an indication of catch per unit effort and this has shown no significant variation from 1969 to 1977. From June to September 1977 fork length and girth measurements were made from 2,121 net-captured grey mullet; age and weight were determined for 528 of these. Gonads from 341 fish were weighed and 154 ovaries were sectioned. The majority of net-caught fish were between 31 and 45cm fork length and 8 to 12 years of age. As the season progressed the gonads of maturing males expanded up to 700% by weight. Growth of the ovary was variable and smaller in degree. Ovary weight in autumn correlated well with mean oocyte diameter. On the basis of previously reported growth data for grey mullet in British and Irish waters and on the length of fish retained by the nets a mean age of catch of 9.6 years is expected. This figure was approached only at the beginning of the season; thereafter the man age of capture was lower.
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Fahy, E., "The exploitation of Grey Mullet Chelon labrosus (Risso) in the south east of Ireland", Irish Fisheries Investigations Series B, Department of Fisheries and Forestry 1979