Impact of artisanal fishery on production of the pink shrimp Penaeus farfantepenaeus duorarum Burkenroad, 1939

A Gracia

doi:10.7773/cm.v21i3.993

Abstract

The impact of artisanal fishery of pink shrimp juveniles on recruitment and total production of Penaeus duorarum in the state of Campeche is analyzed using simulation models. The biological, population and fishery parameters available in literature were used to feed the models, and others were estimated for this purpose. The size structure of the artisanal fishery extends from 12 to 115 mm total length (TL). Catch modal size is between 35 and 40 mm TL. Eighty-five percent of the juvenile shrimps caught are between 25 and 60 days old. Artisanal shrimp fishery causes a decrease in offshore production directly proportional to the amount captured. Simulation results are more affected by natural mortality variability than growth parameter variations. The artisanal fishery of pink shrimp juveniles causes a loss in production at a rate of 1:7.5-10 per kilogram caught which, in terms of value, corresponds to a rate of l:23-32. According to the simulations, the levels of artisanal fishery recorded in the state of Campeche could be responsible for a IO-20% decrease in pink shrimp production.

Highlights

The pink shrimp, Penaeus Farfantepenaeus duorarum, from a commercial point of view is one of the most important species in the Gulf of Mexico
The artisanal fishery of pink shrimp causes a decrease in the offshore production of the shrimp, since it occurs in the stage prior to recruitment and affects its levels
The impact caused by artisanal fishery is small when natural mortality is kept constant and the available growth rates are used

Summary

Introduction

The pink shrimp, Penaeus Farfantepenaeus duorarum, from a commercial point of view is one of the most important species in the Gulf of Mexico. Its fishery has been developed since the 1950’s and has come to represent more than 70% of the shrimp production in the Gulf of Mexico Landings in this area have shown fluctuations throughout its history of exploitation, reaching the greatest levels during the 1970’s. After this period, recorded catches have presented a very noticeable negative tendency that, according to statistical fishery records (Secretaría de Pesca, 1982, 1988; Navarrete et al, in press), have reached a production level equivalent to one third the maximum levels previously recorded. Various causes for this decline have been reported, among them: 1) a decrease in the effort related to the transfer of the shrimp fleet to the tishing coops in 198 1, and the decrease in fishing capacity due to deterioration of the fleet, 2) the decrease in fishing areas due to the increase in oil-drilling platforms in the zone, 3) the deterioration of the quality of the nursery areas and 4) the expansion of the artisanal fishery on pink shrimp

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