Think before consuming this fish and always respect sustainable sizes and seasons. Eat responsibly. Due to ineffective legislation that does not take into account the species biology, the legal size of this fish is substantially lower than the sustainable size. This makes it particularly important to respect the sustainable size shown.

Mullus surmuletus is not naturally poisonous but it is a bottom feeder and therefore risks contamination from sediment pollution, it also accumulates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarons and heavy metals, but the levels of these vary with locality.

Head is less steep. Barbels under the chin are longer than pectoral fin. Body with longitudinal red and orange-brown stripes through eye to base of caudal fin. First dorsal fin with dark markings. Yellow longitudal stripes on body and dorsal fin, and yellow caudal fin. Looks like: Mullus Barbatus (Red mullet): similar coloration. Both found over sand and mud, using the barbels as probes to churn up the sediment in search of food.

Striped red mullet have teeth on the roof of their mouths!