Resumo

GOMEZ, Gabriel; GUZMAN, Ramón  e  BARRIOS, Alexander. Biometric aspects and reproductive dynamics of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus,in the fishing grounds of the northern coast of Paria peninsula, Sucre state, Venezuela. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.3, pp.211-214. ISSN 0798-7269.

ABSTRACT The size structure of cephalothorax (LC) and the reproductive characteristics of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, from the northern coast of Paria peninsula were analyzed in order to facilitate the evaluation of the resource and to suggest management policies. In this sense, a total of 1270 animals were measured from those landed by the fleet of Puerto Santo, which were sampled monthly between November 2003 and April 2004. Most of the animals in the sample (61%) were below the minimum legal size for LC (120 mm), being the average for females 109.4 mm and for males 121.1 mm, with significant differences between sexes (P<0.05). The general average size was 115.9 mm. A common length - weight regression equation was defined as: P = 0.0051*(LC)2.61. The proportion of sexes was significantly in favor of males (1:1.29) (P<0.001). The largest frequency of mature females was observed in November (40%) and December (27%), being the spermatophore plate the main reproductive indicator, since 71% of the mature females showed this property. The size at which 50% of females were mature was estimated in the interval 100-109.9 mm LC, and is still considered overestimated

Palavras-chave : Spiny lobster; artisanal fishery; Sucre State; size of cephalothorax; reproductive characteristics.