FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

To understand the biomass distribution of Kuruma prawn resource caught by bottom trawl net in the coasts and nearshores of Penghu, a study was conducted from February 1989 to November 1990. Gathered were fishery products, body length measurement of shrimps and fishing operating information from sampled fishing boats. The analysis shown that mean CPUE in February was 3.18 - 3.23 kg/h, while in the other months was 1.0 - 2.0 kg/h; Distribution of fishing grounds varied as seasons changed. The major fishing grounds were in the westward part of Hsiyu, 40 miles northwest of Jibei and about 30 miles southeast of Sougang; The average length of the cephalothorax and body weight of the female were greater than the male which was 53.77 - 64.21 mm, 70.0 - 126.4 g for female and 44.2 - 51.35 mm, 50.43 - 70.72 g in male; Shrimps with body length between 131- 170 mm were all male, with the ratio of female shrimp increasing with increasing body length, i.e., 181 - 250 mm. Shrimps with body length greater than 251 mm were all female; The major shrimp food were cephalopodas and small fishes.