salt marshes

reproductive period

Indian Journal of Fisheries

The occurrence of the tblue cra'b Portill/IIS peiagicils was studied from December 1972 to April 1973 in Zuari estuary. Environmerital parameters, 'liz., temperature, saHnity, oxygen, light penetpation and nature of bottom wer~ also 9tudied. 4519 Crabs were caught in 26 trawls; the males were 67.54% and the females were 32.46%. The dominant size groups for males 'and females were 115 mm and 105 mm, respectively. Females mature at a smaller size and breeding Mkes place during February-March. The widthlweight reitationship study show,~d that females were heavier. The 'regression equation for female is: weight = 4.233 x 10-9 x L 4.969, and for male is: we:ght = 2.750 x 10-6 x L 3,636. The crabs were found to prefer loamy soil. The crab Portlll1l1S pefagiclIs constitutes a good food resource in the moutl>, region of Zuari estuary.

ECOLOGY OF THE BLUE CRAB PORTUNUS PELAGICUS (LINNAEUS) AND ITS POTENTIAL FISHERY IN ZUARI ESTUARY