The fishery and biology of Penaeus semisulcatus based on data collected from 2003 to 2007 from Puthiappa, Kozhikode, Kerala are described. The annual catch varied from 0.7 t to 12.4 t with an average of 5.8 t. The fishing season was from January to June and the landings peaked in May. The total length of male ranged from 76 to 190 mm and females from 96 to 220 mm. The sex-ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1. Gut analysis showed that shrimps with empty stomach were dominant (60%); and the major food items were detritus (39%), molluscs (31.4%) and crustaceans (28.5%).
The minimum size of mature female was 150 mm and the gonado-somatic Index was the highest in February. Fecundity varied from 2,83,650 to 7,51,200 mature eggs. Relationships between total length and weight,
length and ovary weight, body weight and ovary weight, fecundity and ovary weight, fecundity and length and fecundity and body weight were determined.

Penaeus semisulcatus, fecundity, gonado-somatic index