An assessment of the penaeid prawn seed resource of the Godavari estuary and the adjacent backwaters

Prawn seed resource of the Codavari estuary and the adjacent backwaters was studied during the years 1969-'71 based on the catches of push nets, drag nets and stake nets. Push net catches at Neelapalli were better in April-June while they were better in March-October at B. V. Palem. Drag net and stake net catches at B. V. Palcm were better during April-May and November-December. Seed represented were of the species of Metapenaeus monoceros, Penaeus indicus, M. dabsoni, M. brevicomis, P. monodon, M. affinis and P. merguiensis in the order of abundance. Assessment of the species-wise seed resources for the entire estuarine system was based on catch and effort and gear census of the 21 villages spread over the area. 203 crores of prawn seed are annually harvested from this estuarine system which is enough to stock 21,800 ha of prawn farms of which 3,770 ha can be stocked with prime species like P. monodon, P. indicus and P. merguiensis