Using length frequency to derive biological reference points for managing fisheries of the green tiger shrimp (<i>Penaeus semisulcatus</i> De Haan, 1844) (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract The green tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan, 1844) is harvested in the Palk Bay region, southeastern India and traded globally. No assessment of the stock status of the species has taken place in the past thirty years. We used multiple models to investigate the population characteristics and stock status of the species in Palk Bay. According to the Thompson and Bell bioeconomic model, increasing fishing pressure to F = 1.4 and F = 1.6 for males and females, respectively, is necessary to achieve maximum sustainable yield (MSY), but it will not result in a higher yield or financial return. By contrast, reducing current fishing effort (F = 0.8) for males and increasing it (F = 1.2) for females results in maximum economic yield. The yield at Fcurrent for males was 1,556.6 t and 6,188.9 t for females, whereas the MSY for males and females was 1,594.1 t and 6,437.5 t, respectively. SB/SB0 or SPR by both Thompson and Bell and LB-SPR analysis indicated the stock to be healthy and sustainable (Thompson and Bell SPR 24.83% for males and 32.08% for females and LB-SPR 0.21 for males and 0.31 for females). This study generates first-hand information providing valuable inputs for developing suitable fishery management plans for the Palk Bay region potentially leading to its sustainability certification for trade.