Spawning season, fecundity and Lm 50% of the Caspian Sea prawn (Palaemon adspersus) in the coastal waters of Guilan Province

Abstract

The spawning season, fecundity and Lm50% of the Caspian Sea prawn (Palaernon adspersus) were investi4ated in the coastal waters of Guilan province. A monthly sampling was conducted using a bottom trawl with mesh size 3 mm in cod end in areas 0-5 and 5-10 meters deep during the year 2002. Mean total length, carapace length and weight of ovigerous female of Palaemon adspersus were 51.95+3.1mm, 13.95±1.9mm and 2.742±0.58g (X ± SD). Minimum and maximum total length of ovigerous specimens were 37 and 59.3mm with a weight 1.002 and 4.145 grams respectively. We found that the spawning season of Palaenion adspersus begins in April and ends in September with a peak in June. Mean fecundity of the species was I994.5±506.6. The size at which 50% of females are mature was estimated to be 51.27min total length.