Population dynamics for banana prawns, Penaeus merguiensis de Man, 1888 in coastal waters off the northern part of the Persian Gulf, Iran

This study was conducted to determine the population dynamics of Penaeus merguiensis stock in the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf. A total of 4994 male and 5264 female prawns were collected monthly by a bottom-trawl net, from July 2010 to September 2012. The carapace length and weight relationship demonstrated that growth in both sexes was allometric. The asymptotic carapace length (CL∞) was estimated at 48 mm for males and 54 mm for females. The growth parameter K was calculated as 1.6 Yr− 1 for males and 1.8 Yr− 1 for females. The total mortality rate for males was more than that for females. And the exploitation rates were 0.75 for males and 0.69 for females. The sex ratio identified that it was not a constant 1:1 throughout the year, with 51.3% females. Banana prawns can spawn all year round and have a spawning peak from February to May. The Lm50% was estimated at a carapace length of 33.64 mm. The exploitation of P. merguiensis in the area is intended to protect spawners and juvenile stock for renewal. Also, the results showed that long-term monitoring is still required to better understand P. merguiensis population dynamics.