Non Penaeid Prawns

Non-penaeid prawns constitute one of the important fishery resources contributing to 5.8% of total marine fish production. The resource is characteristic of the northwest coast, which accounts for almost 90% of the total non-penaeid prawn production in the country. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the non-penaeids account for 10.8% and 12.6% of the total marine fish landings in these states. The non-penaeid prawn resource is multi-species, mainly supported by tiny species of the genus Acetes, in addition to Nematopalaemon tenuipes and Exhippolysmata ensirostris. There are five species of Acetes namely Acetes indicus, A. johni, A. sibogae, A. erythraeus and A. japonicus. Among these the first two support the commercially important fisheries from marine waters while the rest are exploited on a low key from estuarine and near shore coastal seas along both northeast and northwest regions.