Abstract

The shallow-water shrimp fishery is one of the most important socio-economic resources in the Caribbean region, with Farfantepenaeus notialis being the target species. The present study aims to evaluate the biomass and spatial distribution of the shallow water shrimp in the Colombian Caribbean. The direct evaluation was carried out by means of a fisheries research survey in the months of October and September of 2013. The highest biomass values of F. notialis were found in the south of the Colombian Caribbean, within the first five nautical miles (n.mi.) of the coast, between depths of 20 and 50 m, this result was contrasted by the low values of biomass that were obtained in the north zone, within the five nautical miles and depths of 40 and 50 m. Results of association between CPUA of F. notialis and habitat variables show significant associations (p < 0.001) with temperature, salinity, distance to coast and depth. The higher values of CPUA were associated with temperatures between 27.5 to 28.0 ºC, salinities between 35.60 to 35.90 psu, and distance to coast between 3 to 7 n.mi. and depths between 30 to 45 m. Currently, the shallow-water shrimp fishery is in a recovery phase.

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