The fishery of the swimming crab Portunus pclagicus (Linnaeus) from Tuticorin Bay was studied during the period 1991 - 93 and the average annual landing of the crab was estimated at 17.8 t. The fishery was dominated by smaller crabs with carapace width ranging from 91 to 115 mm in male and from 81 to 105 mm in fmale. Females were predominant in the catches forming nearly1 73%. Berried females were observed or during the period 1992-93 with their composition ranging from 1.7 to 12.2%

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