Escapement of penaeid shrimp, a mesh selectivity study

Experiments to define mesh sizes necessary for capturing different sized penaeid shrimp are in progress at the National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Laboratory in Galveston, Texas. A series of nets of successively smaller meshes are being tested in a circular tank of sea water. Temperature and current velocity are controlled. With environmental variables controlled or eliminated and progressive increase of animal and mesh sizes, final results will yield correlations of mesh selectivity of penaeids in controlled conditions. Temperature and current velocity influences will also be determined. (DBO)