Population parameters and size at maturity of Callinectes arcuatus Ordway, 1863 (Decapoda, Portunidae) in Apozahualco Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Abstract The objectives of this study were, to determine the population parameters of size structure, growth, cohorts, and recruitment for Callinectes arcuatus Ordway, 1863, as well as the size at maturity for females. We sampled each fortnight from September 2008 to February 2009 in the coastal lagoon Apozahualco, Guerrero, Mexico. Analysis of size frequency distributions showed three (September) and four (December) cohorts of juveniles. Estimated growth parameters were and , and the phi-prime growth performance index () was 4.2. Recruitment had the highest values during August and September. The size at maturity for females was 72 mm. In conclusion, values of for C. arcuatus were higher in the southern Mexican Pacific (SMP) than in the Gulf of California (GC); and this size at maturity for females followed a decreasing pattern from SMP to GC. These results are essential for fishery management of C. arcuatus in the SMP and GC.