Shrimp composition of the sea bob (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) fishery by-catch at the coast of Paraná

Abstract

At the coast of Paraná State, a small-scale trawl fishery directed to the "sea bob†shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) produces an abundant by-catch. The present study determined the temporal and spatial variation of Decapoda shrimp composition in the by-catch throughout monthly trawls carried out between August 2004 and July 2005 along five transects and covering 6 m, 9 m, 12 m and 15 m deep at each transect. During the studied period, seven species of peneid shrimps, one of sergestid and a variable number of carid shrimp were catch, in a total of 3,464 individuals. This represents less than 2% of the total shrimp catch, including the target species. The "white shrimp" Litopenaeus schmitti, was the most abundant species, followed by Rimapenaeus constrictus, Sicyonia dorsalis, Pleoticus muelleri and the carid Exhippolysmata oplophoroides. The "pink-shrimp†species Farfantepenaeus paulensis and F. brasiliensis together with Artemesia longinaris were the less abundant ones.