Short Communication Updates on the Species of Shrimps in Kakkaithivu Coastal Waters,

ABSTRACT. Shrimps are an important commercial fishery resource and highly diverse group in the world. They are considered a luxury food commodity in international trade and command an excellent market price. The marine fishing grounds around Jaffna district and the brackish water resources are more favourable for shrimp production than the other parts of the country. Kakkaithivu Coastal Area is a part of the Jaffna estuary and a major fish landing center in Jaffna peninsula. An investigation was carried out on shrimp species to identify and update the information on shrimp species, in Kakkaithivu Coastal waters, Jaffna district in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Samples were collected from the commercial catches in Kakkaithivu landing center from November, 2010 through April, 2012.Collected shrimps were initially identified using standard keys according to the morphological features. Seven species of shrimps P. indicus, P. monodon, P. latisulcatus, P. semisulcatus, P. japonicus, Metapenaeus monoceros and M. dobsoni were identified. The presence of P. japonicus and M. dobsoni were recorded for the first time in the coastal waters of Kakkaithivu, Jaffna estuary