STOCK ASSESSMENTAND MANAGEMENT OF PENAEUS LATISULCATUS IN THE GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT.

STOCK ASSESSMENTAND MANAGEMENT OF PENAEUS

LATISULCATUS IN THE GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT.

BY
SAHAR FAHMY MEHANNA
NaJiona/ Institute ojQceanography and FisheriesP.o. Box 182, Suez, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
Monthly length frequency data of Penaeus latisulcatus from the Gulf of
Suez were analyzed to study age, growth, mortality, relative yield per recruit
and relative biomass per recruit. The maximum life span ofP. latisulcatus was
found to be 12 months for males and 15 months for females. The asymptotic
total length was estimated as 21:35 cm for males and 24.13 cm for females, -1 -1 The growth parameter K was assign’ed as 1.91 year for.males and 1.70 year
-1 for females. The total mortality coeffiCient Z was estimated as 9.87 year for -1
males and 7.14 year for females where as the natural mortality coeffiCient AI! -1 -1
was 2.74 year for males and 2.45 year for females. Exploitation rate E was
found to be 0.72 for males and 0.66 for females. Relative yield per recruit and
relative biomass per recruit analysis show that P. latisulcatus stock in the Gulf
of Suez is in a situation of economic overfishing and the present level of
exploitation rate should be reduced by about 46. 4% to maintain a suffiCient
spawning biomass.