An analysis based on trawl-survey data of the state of the ‘Italian’ stock of Mullus barbatus in the Sicilian Channel, including management advice

Abstract Data on the relative abundance of age groups obtained by statistically designed routine trawl surveys in approximately half of the Sicilian Channel were processed with commonly available microcomputer fish population dynamics packages. The species considered was Mullus barbatus , a unit stock of which had been previously identified in the study area. Analytical and management outcomes were also assessed in relative terms. Conditions and limits on both the analyses and the outcomes are discussed with reference to the particular case study.