Environmental Conditions Affect Striped Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus) Artisanal Fisheries

The influence of environmental variables (oceanographic and climatic) on the catch rates striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) by artisanal fishery was investigated using different time series models (Dynamic Factorial Analyses; Min-Max Analyses Generalized Least Square models). Climatic oceanographic survey data were collected at areas Portuguese coast (Northwestern, Southwestern South-Algarve) with distinct regimes. Time analyses reveal an effect fishing effort in areas. Variability M. surmuletus associated to regional multi-controls. Upwelling westerly winds main drivers variability across three but type relationship varied among them. A consistent between environment factors identified during peak period seasonal recruitment (spring summer) Southwest South-Algarve coast, Upwelling-summer Sea surface temperature-spring affecting short term (lag 2 years) rates. In increase SST summer, spawning, correlated rate a lag two years. Environmental reveals that fisheries management needs accommodate species biology better define future assessment plans (catch limits).