THE FISHERY OF PENAEUS-STYLIROSTRIS (DECA PODA, PENAEIDAE) IN THE GULF OF NICOYA, COSTA-RICA

A cohort analysis was performed for Penaeus stylirostris Stimpson, 187 1 in the inner Gulf of Nicoya. Overfishing is evident for males 150-16 0 mm and in females over 170 mm in length. These groups also showed th e highest instantaneous mortality rates. Higher catches are for sizes 130-140 mm. The small-scale fishing fleet reportedly caught 29 457 Kg of white shrimp (Penaeus occidentalis Streets, 1871 y P. stylirostris) equivalent to US $ 558 210. During August 427 708 kg of shrimp were c aught in a 1 378 days fishing effort; a standardization factor of 0.5. was revealed for the small-scale fishing fleet effort. The highest ca pture percentage for Penaeus occidentalis was 55.06.