Assessment of the stock status of two penaeid shrimps in the Northeastern Brazil Marine Ecoregion and implications for their management

Abstract

Shrimp fisheries is one of the most profitable fishery activities in tropical regions, highlighting the need of assessing the status of those resources more thoroughly. Then, this study aimed to provide a comprehensible stock assessment of two highly exploited marine penaeid shrimps (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri and Penaeus schmitti) in two important fishing grounds within the Northeastern Brazilian Marine Ecoregion (NBME) in the state of Alagoas. In addition, the hypothesis of different stocks between areas is also tested by checking for possible between-area heterogeneity in population parameters. We found remarkably similar patterns of growth and mortality between the two fishing grounds for both species, with homogeneous parameters indicating an absence of regional structuration. Then, the two fishing grounds contain a single stock for both species, which will respond similarly to the same fishing pressures and management scenarios. We also indicate that the seabob shrimp is close to the limit of full exploitation in both regions based on Yield per Recruit analysis. Meanwhile, the white shrimp is overexploited in one of them. Potential management tools to allow sustainable and productive exploitation in these fisheries are effort control and spatial restrictions to conserve nursery habitats and maintain sustainable rates of population growth.