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KUWAIT INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

SPAWNING SEASON OF SHRIMP

PENAEUS SEMISULCATUS

IN THE SEA ALONG THE COAST OF KUWAIT

by
»
Mohammad H. Al-Attar

&
Hiromu Ikenoue

(M arine Biology & Fishery Division)

A
\B I. VII. 74 July. 1974

J
 Instituuf voor ZeewetensdiappeHJk onderzoek
Insîiiüîe í:r i , j -ae Scientific Research
Prinses tlis n b s fh la a n 69
8401 B r e d e n e - B elgium -Tel. 0 5 9 / 8 0 37 15

J.U.J4) ¿ •'jij* J>y»*

KUWAIT INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

SPAWNING SEASON OF SHRIMP

PENAEUS SEMISULCATUS

IN THE SEA ALONG THE COAST OF KUWAIT

by

Mohammad H. Al-Attar

&
Hiromu Ikenoue

(M arine Biology & Fishery Division)

MAB I. VII. 74 July. 1974

 CONTENTS

P age

L IS T O F FIG U R ES ........................................................................................... 3

AC KNO W LEDG EM ENT ................................................................................ 4

IN T R O D U C T IO N ................................................................................................ 5

M A T E R IA L S A N D M E T H O D S ......................................................................... 5

R ES U LTS A N D D IS C U S S IO N S 7

1. E s tim a tio n o f s p a w n in g season fro m th e c h a n g e s in b o d y 7

le n g th d is trib u tio n th ro u g h o u t th e y e a r ..........................................

2. E s tim a tio n o f th e m o st a c tiv e s p a w n in g season 14

3. S c a tte re d s p a w n in g a c tiv itie s th ro u g h o u t th e year 16

C O N C L U S IO N ..................................................................................................... 16

R EFER E N C ES ..................................................................................................... 16

C o p y No.

2
 LIST OF FIGURES

Page

F ig u re 1 .................................................................................................................. 5

F ig u re 2 .................................................................................................................. 6

F ig u re 3-1 ............................................................................................................. 8

F ig u re 3-2 ............................................................................................................. 9

F ig u re 3-3 ............................................................................................................. 10

F ig u re 3-4 .................................................................................................................. 11

F ig u re 4 .................................................................................................................. 12

F ig u re 5 .. .
.................................................................................................. 13

F ig u re 6 .................................................................................................................. 14

F ig u re 7 .........................................
•5

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

T he p re s e n t a u th ro rs e x p re s s th e ir h e a rty th a n k s to Dr. K iy o s h i
U c h ih a s h i fo r h is g u id a n c e d u rin g the stu d y. T h e y a ls o th a n k S h e ikh
N a sir and th e sta ff o f U n ite d F is h e rie s o f K u w a it fo r e n a b lin g th e m to
c o lle c t s a m p le s on b o a rd v e s se ls b e lo n g in g to the c o m p a n y . T h e y are
g re a tly in d e b te d to the D ire c to r o f th e K u w a it In s titu te fo r S c ie n tific
R ese arch , and a ll o th e r s ta ff e s p e c ia lly th e s ta ff o f th e M a rin e B io lo g y
and F ish e ry D iv is io n o f th e In s titu te fo r th e ir a s s is ta n c e o f v a rio u s k in d s

4
 INTRODUCTION

P e na e us s e m is u lc a tu s is th e m ost v a lu a b le s p e c ie s fo r th e in d u s tria l
s h rim p fis h e ry in K u w a it, c o m p o s in g th e b u lk o f th e la rg e -s iz e d s h rim p
p ro d u c e d . T he to ta l a n n u a l p ro d u c tio n o f th e in d u s tria l s h rim p fis h e ry in
th e a re a w a s 429 to n s in 1972. In s p ite o f th e im p o rta n c e o f th e s p e c ie s ,
little has been kn o w n a b o u t its e c o lo g y in th e A ra b ia n G u lf. On th e s p a w ­
nin g season o f th e s p e c ie s in th e K u w a iti w a te rs, E n om o to(1 97 1 ) e s tim a te d
it as th e p e rio d b e tw e e n J a n u a ry to M ay b ase d on th e d a ta c o lle c te d at
th e end o f 1969 and in 1970. In th is re p o rt fu rth e r d is c u s s io n s w ill be m ade
on th e s u b je c t u sin g the d a ta c o lle c te d , la te r on.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T he S h rim p w e re c o lle c te d by the re s e a rc h b o a t o f th e K u w a it In s titu te
fo r S c ie n tific R ese arch , "S c ie n c e I" and several c o m m e rc ia l ve ssels
T h e fo rm e r w as e q u ip p e d w ith th e net o f 22 mm. in s tre tc h e d -m e s h size
T he la tte r’s nets w ere 12 mm. in s tre tc h e d -m e s h size, the sam e as th a t
used in th e o rd in a ry c o m m e rc ia l s h rim p fis h e rie s .

10 ' 20 ’ 30'
30'

20 '
F a i l a k k a Is.
K u w a i t Bay

10 '

Arabian Gul f

S h u a i b a h Port

50'

Fig. 1 : T he m ap s h o w in g fis h in g g ro u n d s (s h a d e d a re a ) o f the

s h rim p , P e na e us s e m is u lc a tu s .

5
 T he m ain fis h in g g ro u n d in M a rch and A p ril w as th e a re a a ro u n d
lat. 2 9 °0 0 ’ and lo n g . 4 8 °0 5 ’ so u th east o f S h u a ib a h p o rt

D u rin g the rest of th e y e a r th e fis h in g g ro u n d w as a ro u n d lat. 2 9 ’ 23'

and lon g 48° 10’ at th e m ou th o f K u w a it Bay (F ig . 1 ). T he d e p th o f each
of the fis h in g g ro u n d s is a b o u t 18 m. and 7 m., re s p e c tiv e ly .

T he size o f s h rim p w as e x p re s s e d by b o d y le n g th , th a t is, th e d is ta n c e

fro m th e o rb ita l d e p re s s io n o f th e c a ra p a c e to th e tip o f the te ls o n . T otai
le n g th , th a t is th e d is ta n c e fro m the tip o f ro s tru m to th e tip o f te ls o n , is
m ea sured w he n b o d y le n g th is d iffic u lt to be ta k e n fo r sm a ll s h rim p s .

J u d g e m e n t o f th e m a tu rity o f th e s h rim p is m ad e by e x te rn a l o b s e rv a ­
tio n . A m a tu re o va ry of th e s h rim p is c o m p o s e d o f fro n ta l, la te ra l, d orsal
and lo n g itu d in a l lobes. (F ig . 2 ).

a b c d

Fig. 2 : S c h e m a tic d ia g ra m o f m a tu re d o v a ry of th e s h rim p ,

P enaeus s e m is u lc a tu s .

a : fro n ta l lob e, b : la te ra l lobe,

c : d o rs a l lob e, d : lo n g itu d in a l lobe.

T he la te ra l lo b e s are n u m b e re d fro m p o s te rio r to a n te rio r.

F ro n ta l lo b e s a re o b s e rv e d as g re e n is h s p o ts a t th e p o s t o c u la r p a rt
o f th e ca ra p a c e . T he lo b e s e x te n d to th e p ro x im a l p a rt o f th e ro s tru m
w he n th e o v a ry a tta in s th e fu lly -m a tu re d stage.

L a te ra l lo b e s w h ic h are c o m p o s e d o f e ig h t lo b e s on e ach s id e a re
o b s e rv e d as b ig g re e n is h s p o ts in g a s tric re g io n o f th e c a ra p a c e . F irs t
lo b e s e xte n d to the p o st d o rs a l m a rg in o f th e b ra n c h ia l re g io n o f the
ca ra p a c e . T h o u g h th e la te ra l lo b e s are c o n s p ic u o u s e x te rn a lly , th e y are
not c o n s id e re d as a re lia b le fe a tu re o f ju d g in g m a tu rity o f s h rim p .

D orsal and lo n g itu d in a l lo b e s a re p a ire d lo b e s e x te n d in g d o rs a lly

fro m c a rd ia c re g io n o f c a ra p a c e to th e end o f s ix th a b d o m in a l se gm en t.
T he lo n g itu d in a l lo b e s b e c o m e w id e r as o v a ry b e c o m e s m o re m atu re.
A t th e p a rt o f firs t a b d o m in a l s e g m e n t th e o v a ry s w e lls la te ra lly w he n it
is fu lly m atu re d .

6
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Estimation of spawning season from the changes in body
length distribution throughout the year.
Fig 3 s h o w s th e b o d y le n g th d is trib u tio n fo r b o th se xes fo r m o n th s
fro m D e c e m b e r 1969 to A p ril 1972. F rom th e fig u re s , o n e can see
th a t th e d o m in a n t b o d y le n g th fo r a m ale is 8-10 cm . in J u n e and
Ju ly, 10-12 cm . fro m O c to b e r to D e c e m b e r, and 12-13 cm . in A p ril
and M ay. F or a fe m a le , th e d o m in a n t le n g th is 7-9 cm . in J u n e and
J u ly , 12-14 in O c to b e r, and 14-16 cm . in A p ril and M ay. T h e fa c t th a t
th e s m a lle s t s h rim p w e re c o lle c te d in Ju n e and J u ly s u g g e s ts th a t
th e re c ru itm e n t o f yo u n g s h rim p to th e fis h in g g ro u n d s h o u ld ta ke
p la c e at th e tim e .

T he tim e o f re c ru itm e n t o f yo un g s h rim p to th e fis h in g g ro u n d c o in c id e s

w ith th e d e s c rip tio n o f B o e re m a (1 9 6 9 ). T he s p a w n in g season o f th e
s h rim p can be e stim a te d , p ro v id e d th a t the le n g th of the p e rio d fo r
th em to g ro w fro m the egg to re c ru itin g size, th a t is 7-10 cm . b od y
le n g th , is kn ow n. T h e o n ly in fo rm a tio n a v a ila b le fo r th e e s tim a tio n is fro m
th e re s u lts o f the a rtific ia l re a rin g o f th e s h rim p , in w h ic h a g ro u p o f s h rim p
eggs, sp a w n e d at th e end o f M arch 1972, a tta in e d the size o f 7.1-8.5 cm .
by th e b e g in n in g o f June, w hen th ey g re w fast. T h e re fo re , it can be said
th a t th e sp a w n in g o f the s h rim p o c c u rs in M arch and A p ril if th e g ro w th
of the yo un g s h rim p in n a tu ra l c o n d itio n is su p p o s e d to be a lm o s t the
sam e as the fa s te s t g ro w th in a rtific ia l re a rin g ta n ks

T he g ro w th o f th e s h rim p fo r b o th sexes th ro u g h o u t th e y e a r w as
illu s tra te d in Fig. 4. T he le n g th -w e ig h t re la tio n s h ip o f the s h rim p sh o w n
in Fig. 5 can b e e x p re sse d by th e e q u a tio n s :
W = 4.899 X 10 - 3 X L 3 3 8 2 8
and
W = 1.105 X 10—2 X L 3 0 69 5
fo r m ale and fe m a le re s p e c tiv e ly . T he g ro w th o f s h rim p in b o d y w e ig h t
c o n v e rte d b y th e se e q u a tio n s fro m th a t o f b o d y le n g th is a lso illu s tra te d
in Fig. 4.
 60

20

cm 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 c m
Dec. 1969

60

B
20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Feb. 1 970

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 H 16 18 20
M ay 1970

60

D 40

20
ru
0
ZZL
8 10 12 14 16 18 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Jun. 1970

Fig 3-1 Body length distribution of the shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus.

by month and sex.

8
60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20
J u l.

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Sep. 1970

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Oct. 1970

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Nov. 1970

Fig. 3-2 Body length distribution of the shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus, by

month and sex.

9
 60

J ~ L
20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Dec. 1970

60

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Mar. 1 971

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 8 10 12 14 16 18
J u l. 1971

60

8 10 12 14 16 18 8 10 12 14 16 18
Aug. 1971

Fig. 3-3 Body length distribution of the shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus, by

month and sex.

10
 1

60

20

12 14 16 18 20
Oct.

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16
Feb. 197 2

60

O 40

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14
M ar. 1972

60

20

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 10 12 14 16
Apr. 1972

Fig. 3-4 Body length distribution of the shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus, by

month and sex.

11
i
M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M

Fig. 4 G ro w th o f th e s h rim p , P e na e us s e m is u lc a tu s , fo r e ach sex.

: B o d y le n g th , o : B o d y w e ig h t.

T h e le n g th o f th e b a rs on b o d y le n g th g ro w th c u rv e e x p re s s
th e ra n g e o f th e b o d y le n g th d is trib u tio n .

12
g g
80 80

70 70
Cf
60 60

50 50

AO A O

30 30

20 • •
20

1 O 1 0

-i i i i i i i______
8 10 12 cm 8 10 12 1A 16 18 cm
Fig. 5 L e n g th -w e ig h t re la tio n s h ip o f th e s h rim p , P e na e us s e m is u lc a tu s .
 2. Estimation of the most active spawning season
T he n u m b e r o f m a tu re fe m a le s c a u g h t by a u n it fis h in g e ffo rt is a
s u ita b le in d ic a to r fo r th e s tre n g th o f the s p a w n in g a c tiv ity o f a s h rim p
p o p u la tio n . O ne hau l o f o ne h o u r’s tra w lin g is ta k e n as a u n it e ffo rt
in th e p re s e n t case. Fig. 6 sh ow s th e flu c tu a tio n of th e v a lu e d u rin g
th e p e rio d s fro m th e end o f F e b ru a ry to the b e g in n in g o f M ay 1971
and 1972. A ll s h rim p s w e re c o lle c te d fro m so uth e ast o f S h u a ib a h
p o rt w h e re th e la rg e s t s p a w n in g p o p u la tio n w as o b s e rv e d . T he peak
of th e v a lu e a p p e a re d at the b e g in n in g o f A p ril in b o th years. T h is
m eans th a t th e s h rim p s s p a w n e d m ost a c tiv e ly at th e b e g in n in g o f
A p ril in th e area.

1971

20 25 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5
Feb. Mar. A pr .

1972

20 25 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30 5
Feb. M ar. Apr.

Fig. 6 The fluctuation of the number of female shrimp caught by one

hour trawling.

14
 T h e b o tto m w a te r te m p e ra tu re s o f th e a re a a re sh o w n in Fig. 7 fo r
th e p e rio d . F rom b o th Figs. a re la tio n b e tw e e n b o tto m w a te r te m p e ra tu re s
and s p a w n in g a c tiv ity ca n be o b s e rv e d . T he s p a w n in g b e h a v io r b eg an
a ro u n d M a rch 15th, in 1971, and M arch 25th, in 1972 as seen in Fig. 6 .
T h is c o rre s p o n d s to the b o tto m te m p e ra tu re o f a b o u t 1 7 °C in b o th years.
T he m ost a c tiv e sp a w n in g b e h a v io r w as o b s e rv e d w he n th e b o tto m w a te r
te m p e ra tu re w as 18-19.5°C.

T h e n u m b e r o f m a tu re fe m a le s c a u g h t by a u n it e ffo rt w as m u ch lo w e r
in 1972 th a n in 1971. T h is m ay be d u e to e ith e r a s m a lle r s p a w n in g p o p u la ­
tio n o r a lo w e r fis h in g e ffic ie n c y in 1972 th a n in 1971 o r both.

o
C
1971
20

1 5

1 0
5 10 15 20 25 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25
Feb. M a r. A p r.

C
1972
20

-o -
15

1 0

10 15 20 25 10 15 20 25 30 10 15 20 25
Fe b. M a r. Apr.

Fig. 7 C hange in b o tto m w a te r te m p e ra tu re in th e s p a w n in g season.

15
3. Scattered spawning activities throughout the year.
T h e re are se ve ra l o b s e rv a tio n s w h ic h s u g g e s t s m a ll-s c a le s p a w n in g
a c tiv itie s s c a tte re d th ro u g h o u t the ye ar, a lth o u g h th a t o b s e rv e d in
M arch and A p ril so u th east o f S h u a ib a h p o rt is the la rg e s t F irst, th e re
w as a g ro u p o f fe m a le s h rim p , 12-14 cm . in b o d y le n g th , in June,
J u ly and A u g u s t at th e m ou th o f K u w a it Bay, as seen in Fig 2. Som e
o f th e m p ro ve d to be fu ljy m atu re, s in c e th e y s p a w n e d in re a rin g
ta n ks, even th o u g h th e y w e re s m a lle r in size and th e ir o v a rie s lo o k e d
th in n e r th a n th a t o f m a tu re s h rim p in M a rc h and A p ril. S e co n d , a b o u t
1% o f th e to ta l n u m b e r o f fe m a le s h rim p s o b s e rv e d in O c to b e r 1970
and N o ve m b e r 1972 aí th e m outh of K u w a it Bay and o ff F a ila k a Isla nd
had w e ll-d e v e lo p e d o v a rie s. T h ird , P o st-larval and yo u n g s h rim p of
1.0-3.0 cm . to ta l le n g th w e re o b s e rv e d at the in le t of K h o r AI M u ffa tta h ,
a b o u t 70 km . so u th of S h u a ib a h p o rt in J u ly , A u g u s t and D ece m b e r,
1972. T h e e c o lo g ic a l re la tio n b e tw e e n th o s e s c a tte re d s p a w n in g a c tiv i­
tie s and a la rg e a c tiv ity in M arch and A p ril is the p ro b le m le ft fo r
fu rth e r in v e s tig a tio n s to solve.

CONCLUSION
The la rg e s t s p a w n in g a c tiv ity in K u w a iti w a te rs o c c u rs in M a rc h and A p ril
6 c u th east o f S h u a ib a h p ort. A c tiv e s p a w n in g h ow eve r, is re s tric te d to a
ra th e r s h o rt p e rio d b e tw e e n the end o f M a rch and b e g in n in g o f A p ril w he n
th e b o tto m w a te r te m p e ra tu re is 18-19.5 °C . B e s id e th is la rg e s t s p a w n in g
a c tiv ity , th e re are sm a ll-s c a le s p a w n in g a c tiv itie s s c a tte re d th ro u g h o u t the
y e a r in o th e r are as o f K u w a iti w aters.

REFERENCES

B o ere m a , L. K ( 1 9 6 9 ) ,T he s h rim p re s o u rc e s in th e G u lf b e tw e e n
Iran and the A ra b ia n P e nin sula . FAQ Fish. C irc ., No. 3 10 .

E n o m o to , Y. (1971 ) , O c e a n o g ra p h ic su rve y and b io lo g ic a l s tu d y of

s h rim p s in th e w a te rs a d ja c e n t to th e E a ste rn c o a s ts o f th e S tate o f K u w a it,
B u ll. T o k a i Reg. Fish. Res. Lab., No. 6 6 , 1-74.

16
wmmmM
á p te w éé