Species Profiles. Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (South Florida). PINK SHRIMP,
Abstract
The pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum) supports the most economically important commercial fishery in Florida. In 1981, exvessel landings, exclusive of the bait-shrimp catch, totalled 17 million pounds (heads-off), valued at $45 million. Florida Bay and Charlotte Harbor/Tampa Bay are the nursery areas providing recruitment stocks for the Tortugas and Sanibel grounds, respectively. Larval pink shrimp immigrate from the offshore spawning grounds to estuarine and coastal bay nursery areas, entering as postlarvae (8 to 10 mm TL). Monthly growth rates during the juvenile stage of development vary from 7 to 52 mm TL. Sexual maturity is attained at 9 to 10 weeks of age, or at sizes of 85 mm TL for females and 74 mm TL for males, after which time they emigrate to offshore waters for spawning. Spawning occurs year-round. Recruitment similarly occurs year-round, with a major peak in spring and a secondary peak in fall. Prerecruitment stocks in fall have increased during the past 2 decades, whereas those in spring have remained stable. Pink shrimp are fully recruited into the fishery at 120 mm TL. The pink shrimp functions in the marine ecosystem as both a predatory and a prey species. Pink shrimp, in estuarine habitats, tolerate a wide range of water temperatures (10 C to 35 C) and salinities (5 to 47 ppt). Pollution by petrol - and non-petrol chemicals poses a potential contamination hazard to both pink shrimp and their estuarine habitats. Maintenance of the integrity of estuarine habitats is the most critical need in the management of pink shrimp for sustained exploitation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA180393
Entities
People
- Lourdes M. Bielsa
- Ronald F. Labisky
- William H. Murdich
Organizations
- University of Florida