| Summary: | Grey mullet it is an ecological and biologically important species suitable for sustainable aquaculture. It plays an important role for the economy of several Mediterranean countries, where it is produced in aquaculture based on capture of wild juveniles. The capture of wild juveniles for aquaculture it is not sustainable, and therefore the reproductive cycle must be known in order to obtain eggs for larval production. In this species, the reproductive cycle is still not closed for aquaculture purposes.
This work presents the results obtained on a study on the reproductive cycle of grey mullet <i>Mugil cephalus</i> L. based on oocyte diameter measured over a period of one year at Olhão Aquaculture Research Center (EPPO). Monthly measures of body weight, standard and fork length of 15 females kept in 18 m3 tanks in natural conditions were recorded. The state of ovarian maturity was evaluated based on the oocyte diameter. The mean length of the females were 56,41 cm ± 26,71 and the weight 1770,91 g ± 5,70 and the results obtained so far suggests that spawning must occur during Summer.
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