Mortality and stock assessment of the brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus (Crustacea:Penaeidae), in the northwest Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Fishing mortality of Penaeus aztecus was estimated off Tamaulipas, Mexico Gulf. Monthly age structure and fishing effort data for the 1974-1980 period, and cohort analysis by the virtual population analysis technique were used. Catchability estimates indicate higher values for the first maturity age, fishing mortality increases with age, with an asymptotic tendency after 8-9 months oof, F=0.5 (1/year). F variance also increases with age. Population size has interannual variations because ofrecruitment. The monthly cohort suggests a stable situation for the stock during this period.