Fishery and population characteristics of the Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 (Decapoda, Dendrobranchiata) in Pulicat Lake, southeast coast of India.

Fishery and population characteristics of the Indian white shrimp, Penaeus indicus , were studied in Pulicat Lake, on the southeast coast of India, using the FiSAT software package. The asymptotic length ( L ∞ ), growth coefficient (K) and arbitrary origin of growth (t 0) were estimated by the ELEFAN method to be 16.18 cm, 0.60 year−1 and −0.18 year, respectively. The asymptotic length ( L ∞ ) was calculated as 16.09 cm using the Wetherall method. The growth performance index (Ø′) was found to be 2.19. The mortality parameters Z , F and M were computed to be 3.85, 2.30 and 1.55 year−1, respectively. The pattern of recruitment was observed to be year-round, with a peak from June to September. The total stock, annual catch and exploitation rate for P. indicus were estimated to be 1518.43 tonnes, 809.3 tonnes, and 0.59 year−1, respectively. The estimated Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) was found to be 131.95 tonnes less than the annual catch. The stock of P. indicus was found to be over-exploited, so it is suggested that the effort level be reduced by 16.3% in order to sustain this resource in Pulicat Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]