Biomass and Distribution of Banana Shrimp (Penaeus merguiensis De Man, 1888) In the Persian Gulf

Sampling of banana shrimp stock was occurred for estimating the biomass and distribution purposed by wooden trawler in aquatic habitat from January 2013 to January 2014. Towing operation was done from Sirik (26O 25’ E, 57O 01’ N) to Dargehan in north of Qeshm island (27O 02’ E, 56O 12’ N). Carapace length – total weight relationship for mixed gender was estimated as W= 0.0015L2.7868. Recruitment was occurred all around the year, but maximum was in July to November (63%). Exponential probability of capture was estimated as Pi=1/[1+exp(-0.56(Li-23.78))]. Biomass of banana shrimp was estimated as 1044.1 tone by swept area method and total allowable catch was estimated 835 tone. Maximum biomass of banana shrimp was 507.6 tone (about 48.6%) in depth layer of 5-10 m and the most concentration of the shrimp was belonging to west part of Hormoz Island. Optimum time to starting the catch season, based on the 28 mm (Cl) as optimum length of harvest, was estimated 1st October, 2013. Changes in natural mortality values could be effected the length of catch and optimum time of harvest too. The catchability coefficient, q, was estimated 0.000371 and total biomass was calculated 1232 tone by depletion method. Such difference in estimated biomass from two methods maybe belong to add juvenile to main stock during the catch season or increasing the body mass of each individual in the stock.