Analysis of mortality and exploitation of a stock of shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the rates of mortality and exploitation of Atlantic seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, caught in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Monthly samples of species were obtained over five years from the artisanal fishing carried out in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We analyzed 25,574 specimens with the total length varying from 32.0 to 134.0 mm for males and 33.0 to 148.0 mm for females. Two software programs were used to estimate rates of growth, mortality and exploitation: FiSAT II and Solver assessment tools. The asymptotic total length varied from 126.0 to 141.8 mm (males) and 143.9 to 154.4 mm (females). The growth rate (year-1) ranged from 0.62 to 2.23 for males and 0.27 to 1.73 for females. Both assessment tools indicated that the exploitation rate of Atlantic seabob shrimp was above the maximum acceptable, requiring the reduction of the local fishing effort.