Selectivity and Structure of the Callinectes Arcuatus Population in Marismas Nacionales, Nayarit, Mexico 2017

2. National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nayarit, México

Abstract: The swimming crab fishery is a growing and socioeconomically important productive activity in Nayarit. Aspects of the capture technology used in the blue swimming crab Callinectes arcuatus fishery were analysed from March to October 2017, in the fishing community of Antonio R. Laureles, Nayarit. Chesapeake-type swimming crab traps with mesh sizes of 2 and 3 inches were used. The selectivity of the traps was determined based on the logistic function that allows one to estimate the average length for the selection of specimens (L50). These were L50 = 99 mm for the 2 inch traps and L50 = 103 mm for the 3 inch traps. A one factor variance analysis of the carapace width and total weight of the specimens collected with the two mesh sizes showed a significant difference for carapace width P = 4.83 E-21 (p < 0.05) and no significant difference for total weight P = 0.70 (P > 0.05). The 3 inch traps collected 72.6% and the 2 inch traps collected 63.0% of specimens with sizes equal to or greater than the minimum catch size of 95 mm established for this species in the current fishing regulations of Mexico.