An assessment of pink shrimp <i>(Penaeus brasiliensis)</i> populations, in three areas of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Abstract

Pink shrimp, Penaeus brasiliensis, were caught from May 1990 to February 1991 in three sites of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica: Limón, Parismina and Barra del Colorado. Length frequency data were used to estimate, with the Compleat Elefan computer program, growth, mortality, optimum exploitation rate, probability of capture, recruitment, relative yield and biomass per recruit for each sex and study area. Using modal progression analysis, three age groups were determined in each zone. There was significant seasonal growth. Fishing mortality and the exploitation rate in these areas were low, indicating that these stocks are probably underexploited.