Studies on the fishery and biology of Metapenaeus kutchensis exploited off the northwest coast of India during 1991-2000 indicated that the average annual catch of the species was 605 t, which contributed 4% to the total penaeid shrimp landings at New Ferry Wharf in Mumbai. The species was found to feed on polychaetes (45%), Acetes spp. (20%) and benthic crustaceans (14%). Dimegsional relationships between total length, carapace length and total weight and tail weight are given for the two sexes separately. Size at maturity was 103.1 mm for the males and 135.5 mm for the females. Fecundity and total length were exponentially related by the equation F = 0.0000012*L 5.'. Wide continental shelf of the northwest coast in the depth range of 40-80 m is the spawning ground, where the females emigrating from Gulf of Kutch spawned from December-August at about bimonthly intervals. However, spawning during May-August contributed to successful generation of the stock. It is construed that strong wind driven surface currents during monsoon drift the larvae to the Gulf waters and subsequently to the Little Rann, where the estuarine conditions in the adjoining creeks following monsoon rains create nursery. ground for the juveniles and support the seasonal fishery there.

Fishery, biology, ginger prawn, Metapenaeus kutchensis, northwest coast, India