Growth and mortality of Kiddy Shrimp, Parapenaeopsis stylifera (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) along the coast of Maharashtra

Abstract The study on the growth and mortality of Kiddy Shrimp, Parapenaeopsis stylifera (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) was carried out based on the length frequency data collected weekly from trawl catches during November 2014 to March 2016 along the coasts of Ratnagiri, Alibag and Mumbai. The population of P. stylifera from the coastal waters of the state ranged in size from 30 to 132 mm TL and the mean length varied from 78.79 mm to 90. 76 mm. The asymptotic length (L ∞ ) and growth coefficient (K) ranged from 128 to 142 mm and 1.2 to 1.8 yr −1 respectively at various localities. By using Pauly’s equation the age at length zero, t 0 was found to vary from - 0. 0063 to -0.0136 yr. P. stylifera was seen to grow to an average size of 59 to 72 mm, 90 to 106 mm, 107 to 123 mm and 116 to 132 mm at the end of six, twelve, eighteen and twenty four months respectively. The total, natural and fishing mortality rates varied from 4.42 to 7.97, 2.38 to 2.78 and 2.04 to 5.39 yr-1 respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) determined as F/Z was found to be 0.53, 0.67 and 0.46 along the coasts of Ratnagiri, Alibag and Mumbai respectively. To sustain the landings of P. stylifera from Alibag coast there is need to reduce the fishing pressure from the present exploitation level of 0.67 to an optimum of 0.50.