Penaeid prawn larval abundance in the Mandovi Estuary, Goa (India)

Abstract

Seasonal distribution and abundance of commercially important penaeid prawn larvae at 10 stations in the Mandovi and Cumburjua canal estuarine complex of Goa were studied during 1971-72 with a view to determining their seasonal availability for large scale collection. Larvae and postlarvae of 6 species, viz. <i>Metapenaeus dobsoni, Penaeus merguiensis, M. monoceros, Parapenaeopsis stylifera, Penaeus</i> sp. and Metapenaeus sp., were available and these were sorted out from the plankton samples from these stations. M. dobsoni was the dominant species, contributing to 89.79% of the total larval population followed by <i>P. merguiensis</i> (4.66%) and <i>M. monoceros</i> (4.28%). Larvae and postlarvae of the other species were negligible in numbers. In <i>M. dobsoni</i> although the larvae were present throughout the year, the peak abundance was in January with a secondary peak in March and May. The other species had slightly different peaks in their larval abundance. From the total number recorded in the samples from different stations it was found that the stations near the mouth of the Mandovi Estuary had the maximum number of larvae and postlarvae. The present study would indicate that large scale collection of postlarval prawns for stocking in pond culture practices could be possible from areas nearer the mouth of the Mandovi Estuary in the months of January to July.