Seasonal Abundance of Penaeid Prawn Larvae and Postlarvae in the Coastal Waters of Goa up to 50 m Depth Zone

Abstract

Seasonal distribution of larvae and postlarvae of commercially important penaeid prawns was studied from Goa waters during 1976-77. Developmental stages of 6 species, viz. Metapenaeus dobsoni (Miers), M. monoceros (Fabricius), Penaeus merguiensis de Man, P. indicus Milne Edws, Parapenaeopsis stylifera (Milne Edws) and Metapenaeus sp., were present in the plankton samples collected from 5 to 50 m depth zones. The larvae of M. dobsoni were most dominant followed by P. erguiensis. The larvae were more abundant in the horizontal samples (68.14%) than in vertical samples (31.86%). Maximum and minimum number of the developmental stages of these species were obtained from 10 and 50 m areas respectively. Maximum abundance was noticed during premonsoon and minimum during the monsoon.