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The deep water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris is a commercial species for the trawl fleet that operates in the Gulf of Alicante. Despite its importance, there were no biological studies on the species for that area. This study presents results on the life cycle of the species, shedding light on certain crucial aspects. Data were obtained from monthly samples taken from commercial catches landed in the port of Santa Pola from 2001 to 2006. The fisheries in the studied area show a decreasing trend, both in number of vessels targeted on the species, and in landings, since 2001. The species shows a sexual size dimorphism, with a negative allometry of relative growth that is more pronounced in males and thus results in lower sizes of males than of females. Estimate produced from VBGF parameters gave higher K values for males than for females, indicating that males would reach 13.2 mm CL in the first year and females 14.8 mm CL, which would represent a maximum life expectancy of 4 and 6 years, respectively. The reproductive period, based on the percentages of maturity and GSI development, was found to range throughout the year, with some peaks of activity especially in summer. The size at first maturity (L50) of 25.6 mm for females indicates that maturation will have to occur from the second year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The artisanal fishery of the Alicante Gulf was analysed from data collected at the port of Santa Pola using multivariate analysis and generalised linear models. Daily landings by boat from 1994 to 2003 were used: (i) to describe the activity groups; (ii) to identify the target species; (iii) to characterise the catch composition by gear and (iv) to obtain a derived abundance index for the selected species. This is a multispecies and multigear fishery mainly based on the exploitation of Mullus spp. (especially M. surmuletus), Merluccius merluccius, Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis and some Sparidae species. Many other species are landed either individually or as mixed categories. The main gear is the trammel net, followed by the long line, the gill net and others, all exhibiting a high monthly variability in landings. More generally, there is an annual stability in landings joined to a high annual and monthly variability in the abundance index of the main target species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]