Reproducción del camarón carabalí Trachypenaeus byrdi (Burkenroad, 1934) en la parte interna del Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica

The white shrimp (Litopenaeus sp.) is among the most socioeconomically important resources in the Gulf of Nicoya. However, in the last years, the carabali shrimp (Trachypenaeus byrdi) has become a species of high local commercial value. Therefore, samples of the carabali shrimp (T. byrdi) collected in the inner section of the Gulf for 15 months between 2008 and 2009 were analyzed in the present study in order to ascertain the biology and population dynamics of this resource. It was confirmed that T. byrdi is found mainly on muddy bottoms located in the inner part of the Gulf, close to the coastal area at depths no greater than 15 m. Population parameters show that female average size at maturity is 87 mm TL (Total Lenght). Two main reproduction periods were identified: March-April and July-September.  Estimated growth parameters were Loo= 112.6 mm, K= 1.29 yr-1, to= -0.084 and Woo= 18.68 g for females and Loo= 88.2 mm, K= 1.26 yr-1 and to= -0.094 for males.