A survey on Movement and estimation of growth rate in Banana shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) released to the Persian Gulf and Oman sea waters ( Hormuzgan province)

Abstract

Banana shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis) is important shrimp species for stock enhancement in recent year in Hormozgan Tiab region. These crustacean spent post larve to juvenile cycle in mangrove creeks. Thus majore creek in this investigation are Tiab, Kolahi, Koleghan and Khamir (Laft). Maximum concentration of post larvaes in creek of Tiab, Kolahi and Koleghan are occur at April and in creek of Khamir is at May. Concentration of crustacean zoea and copepods that are diet of shrimp post larvaes, increase at this moment. Juveniles of Banana shrimp stay at those creek until June. At this time, juveniles reach to 14.6 mm (CL) and 2.9 g (TW). So optimum date to release is June for about 2.9 g of individuals. After June, concentration of juveniles decrease in creeks but increase in coastal waters. This variation in juveniles concentrations has negative correlation with temperature and salinity of water in creek. Amount of 187 fish stomachs (from 22 species) in the creeks were reviewed, about 56 (29.9%) of those stomachs were full or semi full conditions. Amount of 12 fish stomachs (6.4%) contain of shrimp as diet. The most important of these fish was Mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus). About of 104789 juveniles of Banana shrimp (1.4g TW) in 2007 and 51401 juveniles (1.3g TW) in 2008 were tegged and released from 23 June to 16 July each year. Most of the shrimp (tagged and not tagged) released in Tiab creek. For recapture of tagged shrimp used 386 trawl survey and about 49.3 Km2 swepted by wooden boats. During the catch season (October to early November) about 10% of wooden boats and some shrimp processing companies were search daily for tagged shrimp, but no tagged shrimp were found.