Fishery, biology and yield estimates of Portunus sanguinolentus off Chennai

The fishery and stock characteristics of the dominant species of crab, Portunus sanguinolentus was studied along the Chennai coast. The annual crab landings during the period 1998-2007 ranged from 236 t to 1,628 t with the catch rate fluctuating between 0.78 kg/h and 2.01 kg/h. The carapace width of P. sanguinolentus in the fishery was 41-165 mm for females and 41-155 mm for males. Females were dominant throughout the period of study, the overall sex ratio 1:1.41