Composition of shrimp catches caught shrimp by beam trawl in the waters around Naozhou Island of Guangdong Province

Based on monitoring investigation and sampling data by fishing vessel in 2005,composition,biological characteristics and monthly variation of shrimp catches have been analysed with data analysis tool of Microsoft Excel.The results indicated that shrimp catches caught shrimp by beam trawl in waters around Naozhou Island were consisted of coastal and epibenthile species and less commercial species,among them,Penaeus merguiensis,Penaeus japonicus,Parapenaeopsis hardwickii were the target species of shrimp trawl fishery.Monthly variation in composition of shrimp catches was obvious.The selectivity of shrimp beam trawl for small and young shrimps is poor.To exploit rationally the shrimp resources and to promote sustainable shrimp fishery development,a great number of small and young shrimps caught by shrimp beam trawl should be reduced and released largely with using trawl separating devices and techniques based on shrimp behavior and characteristics.