Note on the fisheries and biology of the golden crab (Chaceon fenneri) off the northern coast of Brazil

Abstract

The occurrence of golden crabs ( Chaceon fenneri ) off the northern coast of Brazil was first reported in 2001. Since then, a few companies and boats have exploited this resource. In the state of Ceara, one company has been fishing for these crabs with a single boat since 2003. The production and fishing effort of this company indicated a decrease in the number of trips and total catches per year. Data collected on one trip in 2006 showed that the CPUE was highest at over 650 m depth. As registered for other geryonid crabs, C. fenneri was segregated by sex along the northern slope of Brazil. Male crabs were significantly larger than females, presenting an isometric relationship between carapace width and length and an allometric relationship between carapace width and body weight.