Length-Based Fishery Status of Indian White Prawn (Penaeus Indicus, Milne-Edwards, 1837) in the Northern Waters of the Oman Sea (Iran)

Population dynamics parameters and exploitation ratio of the Indian white prawn (Penaeus indicus) were studied from August 2019 to February 2022 and data collected from three landing places (Konark, Pozem and Gowatar). During the duration of the study, 504 specimens of shrimp were analyzed in the laboratory. The mean carapace length of male and female shrimp was 36 ± 22 and 40 ± 25 mm, individually, while the mean weight of male and female shrimp was 43 ± 26 and 51 ± 29 g, respectively. The range of male and female shrimp carapace length was (30–58) and (32–70) mm individually. The result of relationship among length and weight of male shrimp carapace was W = 0.0003×CL^3.07 (n = 204, R² = 0.82, 95% C.I of b = 2.52–3.61) and female shrimp carapace W = 0.0001 ×CL^3.18 (n = 300, R² = 0.86, 95% C.I of b = 2.63–3.72). The population dynamics indices of Indian white prawn of females and males were carapace infinite length (L_inf) 73 and 69 mm, natural mortality (M) 1.47 and 1.70 per year, growth coefficient (K) 1.14 and 1.39 per year, total mortality (Z) 1.93 ± 0.55 (95% C.I = 1.38–2.48) and 1.99 ± 0.02 (95% C.I = 1.97–2.01), fishing mortality (F) 0.46 and 0.29 per year, exploitation coefficient (E) 0.24 and 0.15, respectively. Exploitation rate (U), yearly overall stock at beginning of the year were calculated as 0.2 and B₀ = 1430 T respectively, Yearly normal standing stock, B_t= 635 T were estimated. The exploitation ratio maximum sustainable yield, E_MSY = 0.50, 0.52, fishing mortality maximum sustainable yield, F_MSY=1.5, 1.9. Value of F/Fmsy was less than 1 which shows considered desirable. According to the calculated parameters, this species is not overfishing pressure (Healthy stock /under fished stock).