Abundance and Size Distributions of 'Penaeus' spp. Shrimps in the Northern and Northwestern Gulf of Mexico during the 1982 Closure Period

摘要

Analyses of shrimp populations in shallow coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to Texas during the Texas Closure (May 26-July 14, 1982) were made based on a collection of 299 trawl samples. Shrimp were more abundant off Texas than in the other areas, and were more abundant between 10 and 20 fathoms than at other depths. Catch per unit effort data from our samples indicated shrimp were 25% more abundant during the 1981 Texas Closure than during the 1982 closure. Populations of brown shrimp were examined through length-frequency analyses. Mean lengths in each 5-fm depth zone showed the typical increases with increasing water depths.