Contribution to the Biology of Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) in the South Ionian and South Adriatic Sea

Experimental trawl sampling was carried out along the South Ionian and South Adriatic Sea s between 2006 and 2008 in depths from 71 to 586 m. This study investigates the available inform ation on biology of P. longirostris in both areas. The length frequency distribution of the Greek specimens ranged between 7.08 - 38 mm CL (2 - 3 size groups), while between 14 - 37 mm CL (1 - 2 size groups) in the Montenegrin samples and was not significantly dep endent on depth in both areas. The values of the slope (b) of the CL - W relationships in both countries were similar to those found in other Mediterranean areas and were higher in the Greek samples. The spawning period takes part in the sampling period in b oth areas. T he smallest mature female in the Ionian Sea was 10 mm CL and 16 mm CL in South Adriatic Sea. Sex ratio was significantly higher than 1:1 in favor of males in the South Ionian Sea, while females statistically outnumbered males in the Montenegrin samples. The observed biological differences between in the two study areas could be attributed to the different sampling depth and the exploitatio n the ratio