Finfish Breeding and Hatchery Management (2+1)

Unit 11- Breeding of grey mullet

11.1. Distribution and importance

• Grey mullets belong to the family Mugilidae and Order Mugiliformes
• They are distributed in the Indo-Pacific region; commonly cultured in Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.
• One of the most important groups of brackishwater fishes cultured
• Found in both the coasts of India, but is more abundant in the east coast
• Hardy, highly resistant to diseases, euryhaline, herbivorous and easy to culture.
• Widely cultured in South-east Asian countries in brackishwater and marine waters.
• Harvested from Indian estuaries and coastal waters.
• Form an important fish in pokkali fields of Kerala
• Good food fish.
• Mugil cephalus (striped grey-mullet) is the most important species and has good growth rate.
• M. cephalus grows to comparatively to a large size (400-500g in 6-8 months).
• Non-availability of seed is a major constraint.

Identifying characters

• M. cephalus has elongate and stout body, with emerginate caudal fin.
• Head moderate, concave between eyes.
• Mouth ventral, protrusible.
• First dorsal fin inserted nearer to caudal fin.
• Dull brown superiorly, lighter along abdomen; dorsal and anal fins stained with gray. Eyes golden.
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Grey mullet, Mugil cephalus