A REVIEW OF THE BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES OF THE DEEP WATER ROSE SHRIMP, PARAPENAEUS LONGIROSTRIS, IN EUROPEAN ATLANTIC AND MEDITERRANEAN WATERS (DECAPODA, DENDROBRANCHIATA, PENAEIDAE)

摘要

The deep water rose shiimp, Parapenaeus longiroitris, is a very important commercial species for trawl fleets that fish in the Mediterranean as well as in the Gulf of Cadiz and to the south of Portugal. Despite its importance, its life cycle has not been thoroughly studied and there are discrepancies as to certain aspects, depending on the area. Although spawning takes place throughout the year, two peak periods have been identified between late spring and early autumn. This species is characterizedby a differential growth pattern, with females reaching a larger size, and has a life cycle of two to three years. Individuals reach sexual maturity at 8 to 10 months at varying sizes, depending on the area (cephalothorax length 20 to 28 mm in females) and have an average fecundity of 90,000 eggs. The species feeds on a great variety of prey, its main prey being annelid worms (polychaetes) and foraminiferans. The fishery involves a large number of boats, about 2,000 over the whole area here covered. Itis basically directed at a single cohort and total catches can reach 10,000 tons a year.