Growth parameters and mortality rates of the blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis (Forskal, 1775) in coastal waters of Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, Iran

Abstract

Population parameters of the blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Hormozgan Province) were estimated using the swept area method. Sampling was carried out monthly from May 2010 to October 2011. The carapace width and weight relationship demonstrated that growth in both sexes is allometric (p<0.05). The asymptotic carapace width (CW∞) was estimated as 191 mm for males and 185 mm for females. The growth parameter K was calculated as 1.7 yr -1 for males and 1.6 yr -1 for females. The total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality rates were estimated as 5.97, 1.47 and 4.50 for males and 3.94, 1.42 and 2.52 for females, respectively. The exploitation rate was 0.75 for males and 0.64 for females.