Catch statistic review of Mullet fishery in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea

Abstract

Historical catch data showed that the mullet species for the first time appeared in Iranian coastal waters in 1944 and had fluctuated with an increasing catch in a period of 50 years that the mean catch increased during these years. Catch composition of mullet in Iranian coastal waters during years of 1991-1997 mainly comprised by golden grey mullet (except in 1995) and often reached more than 50% of the mullet catch during the mentioned years. Catch per unit of effort data for each beach seining time concerning golden grey mullet was calculated 93 kg fish in 1991. It reached 33 kg in 1997. This declined in catch also occured for sharpnose mullet from 78 kg in 1991 to 15 kg in 1997. One of the main factors reducing the CPUE could be attributed to higher fishing effort including the augmentation of beach seining haul number 20975 in 1991 to 42878 in 1998. The mean length of golden grey mullet in Guilan Province during the years of 1991-1997 decreased, while in Mazandaran Province increased. For sharp nose mullet, there was no difference of mean length during the mentioned years in Guilan and Mazandaran Provinces.