The "karikkadi" fishery of Kerala

Parapenaeopsis stylifera, (called 'Karikkadi Chemmeen' ) is the most important species of prawn contributing to the commercial fishery of Kerala coast. An experimental shrimp trawling conducted for a period of two years has shown that during the non-monsoon period (September/October to May) most of the shrimp stocks occupy the coastal waters within the 20 m depth contour. With the commencement of southwest monsoon and the consequent changes in the environmental conditions, the prawns leave the inshore areas in large numbers to the deeper zones. The wide annual fluctuations observed at important centres, the occurrence of juvenile prawns in large quantities noticed quite often in the fishery, call for proper management and conservation measures.