Population dynamics and fisheries characteristics of the Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) as an invasive species in Bardawil Lagoon, Egypt

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Population parameters of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus were investigated based on the data collected from the commercial catches of Bardawil Lagoon covering 20 months during the fishing seasons 2016-2018. Growth parameters were estimated from the carapace length frequency distribution data of more than 1960 specimens. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for males, females and sexes combined were K= 1.53, 1.45 and 1.42 y-1 respectively, L¥= 9.71, 10.11 and 9.96 cm respectively and to= -0.14, -0.15 and –0.15 year respectively. The values of total mortality coefficient (Z), natural mortality coefficient (M) and fishing mortality coefficient (F) were 5.19, 2.31 and 2.88 y-1 for males, 6.21, 2.51 and 3.70 y-1 for females and  6.35, 2.57 and 3.78 y-1 for sexes combined respectively. Exploitation rate was estimated at 0.55, 0.60 and 0.59 for males, females and sexes combined respectively. The age-based yield per recruit analysis showed that the blue crab stock is being exploited at its optimum limit. The present study suggested that this fishery resource could be expanded with the increase of current fishing effort but such increasing is not acceptable because the commercial species in the lagoon are over exploited. The current management regulations must be revised and improved to sustain and optimize yields.

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