NURSERY GROUNDS OF GREEN TIGER PRAWN (PENAEUS SEMISULCATUS, DE HAAN, 1844) IN BUSHEHR COASTAL WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, IRAN

Nursery grounds of Penaeus semisulcatus were surveyed in the main coastal prawn catching areas of the Bushehr waters, Persian Gulf, from July 2003 to March 2005. Sampling stations were selected in waters less than 10m deep and juveniles were collected using a small vessel powered by a 150 hp outboard engine that was equipped with a small beam trawl net with 10 mm mesh size. Prawns less than 15 mm carapace length were classified as juvenile. The catches of P. semisulcatus juveniles were abundant at only a few sites in the shallow waters around southern (Motaf) and middle (Helaileh) regions of the studied area. The maximum number of juveniles was seen in July and November 2003 that amounted to 596 and 24 specimens, respectively. In April and June 2004, only 43 and 85 specimens were recorded respectively. Juvenile abundance was higher in vegetated sites as compared to other sites during this study. The study supports the fact that the extensive shallow reef and open flat coastline areas that are covered with grass and algae communities are critically important for the prawn and should therefore be protected from pollution, fishing gear damage and industrial development