The Striped Red Mullet, also known as the Rock Mullet, is one of the most famous and beloved fish of the Mediterranean. It belongs to the family Mullidae and is distinguished by its intense reddish colour and delicious flavour. The body is elongated and laterally compressed, with colour ranging from fire red on the back to pink and silver on the belly. The most important feature that distinguishes it from other similar species involves the intense yellow horizontal stripes running along its sides and the dark markings on the first dorsal fin.

The profile of its head is smooth and sloped, which is different from the steep and vertical profile seen in the mud mullet. Under its jaw, it possesses two characteristic long barbels, which serve as sensory organs for touch and taste. When the fish searches for food, the barbels move constantly as it digs into the seabed, but when it swims, it retracts them into special grooves in the jaw.

This is a benthic species that lives near the seabed. It prefers rocky bottoms, reefs, and mixed ground consisting of stone, sand, and gravel. The fish is encountered at depths from 10 to 100 metres, although older individuals can descend deeper. Young individuals often form schools while larger ones become more solitary.

The Striped Red Mullet is generally larger than the mud mullet. Its usual length ranges from 15 to 25 centimetres. However, it can reach a maximum length of 40 centimetres and a weight exceeding 1 kilogram, especially in areas not intensively fished.

Fisheries & Economic Value

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Striped Red Mullet as a species of Least Concern. However, scientific studies have shown that in many areas of the Mediterranean, populations are under great pressure from overfishing. Research also indicated that females grow faster and live longer than males, often reaching ten years of age.