On The Prawn Fisheries in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Abstract

Prawn fisheries in the Gulf of Suez constitute about 13.7% of the total fish and shrimp landings. About 11% are made up by three penaeid species namely: Penaeus japonicus Bate, Penaeus semisulcatus De Han and Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouy. Metapenaeopsis stridulants Alcock and Trachypenaeus curvirostris Stimpson are two further small species which form only 2.7% of the-total landing of the trawlers in the Gulf. Percentages of the three large species are 47% for P. japonicus, 30% for P. latisulcatus and 23% for P. semisulcatus. The intensive fishing period takes place from October to May, coinciding with the spawning period of P. semisulcatus (October-March). The middle of the Northern half of the Gulf is the richest area for the three forms. The monthly catch weight per unit effort showed a general decline from the beginning of each fishing season to January-February. A slight increase occurred afterwards. This may be due to the new arrivals of P. latisulcatus to the fishery ground. The fishing season 1983-1984 gave a high yield of the large prawns (749 tons) with a fishing effort of 13690 fishing days.