Penaeid prawns in the St Lucia Lake System: Post-larval recruitment and the bait fishery

Abstract

Recruitment of post· larval penaeid prawns and the bait prawn fishery in the St Lucia Lake System were monitored for two years before and one year after Cyclone Domoina. Post·larval Penaeus indicus Milne·Edwards, P. monodon Fabricius, P. japonicus Bate, P. semisulcatus de Haan and Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) were found. Recruitment was dominated by P. japonicus but P. indicus was the major species taken in the bait fishery. M. monoceros catches in the fishery increased during the low salinity conditions following the cyclone. Differences in species ratios between the post·larvae and the bait fishery, factors affecting recruitment, the size of the bait catch and the relationship between recruitment and catch are discussed.