Fishery and biology of the ginger prawn, Metapenaeus kutchensis George, George and Rao, 1963 along the northwest coast of India

摘要

Studies on the fishery and biology of Metapenaeus kutchensis exploited off the northwest coast of Indiaudduring 1991-2000 indicated that the average annual catch of the species was 605 t, which contributed 4% toudthe total penaeid shrimp landings at New Ferry Wharf in Mumbai. The species was found to feed onudpolychaetes (45%), Acetes spp. (20%) and benthic crustaceans (14%). Dimegsional relationships betweenudtotal length, carapace length and total weight and tail weight are given for the two sexes separately. Size atudmaturity was 103.1 mm for the males and 135.5 mm for the females. Fecundity and total length wereudexponentially related by the equation F = 0.0000012*L 5.'. Wide continental shelf of the northwest coast in theuddepth range of 40-80 m is the spawning ground, where the females emigrating from Gulf of Kutch spawnedudfrom December-August at about bimonthly intervals. However, spawning during May-August contributed toudsuccessful generation of the stock. It is construed that strong wind driven surface currents during monsoonuddrift the larvae to the Gulf waters and subsequently to the Little Rann, where the estuarine conditions in theudadjoining creeks following monsoon rains create nursery. ground for the juveniles and support the seasonaludfishery there.