Study of the Texas Bay Populations of Juvenile Shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, Penaeus setiferus, and Penaeus duorarum - Study of the Texas Shrimp Population

Date

1965

Authors

Moffett, Alan W.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Abstract

Plankton samples from the Aransas Bay area indicated that the postlarvae brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) immigration peak was reached in March. Sampling in the bays revealed the presence of a large wave of brown shrimp in the spring. In the shallow tertiary bays and along the shore of large bays brown shrimp grew slowly in April and movement to the open water of larger bays was delayed. As the waters warmed growth was rapid and the shrimp began their gulfward movement on schedule. Samples taken in the inshore Gulf off the Lower Laguna Madre contained large numbers of brown shrimp in May. The samples from the Gulf off Port Aransas indicated that the majority of this species left the Aransas Bay area in June. Shrimp samples from the bays indicated the presence of a large 1964 white shrimp year class. This was confirmed by large commercial catches in the late summer and early fall. Small white shrimp were found in the Gulf in September off the lower coast. In January this species was found in abundance off Port Aransas, but not off Galveston. Brown shrimp commercial landings were somewhat disappointing, however, white shrimp landings were greater than landings reported in 1963.

Description

page 1-45; available for download at the link below.

Keywords

penaeid shrimp, juveniles, shrimp fisheries, white shrimp, brown shrimp, pink shrimp, population dynamics, growth

Citation