Fishery biology of mud crabs Scylla spp. at Iriomote Island, Japan: species composition, catch, growth and size at sexual maturity

The fishery biology of mud crabs Scylla spp. was examined using baited traps and gill nets from September 2001 to August 2005 at Iriomote Island, Japan. To elucidate the growth of the crabs, artificially produced S. serrata juveniles were released and recaptured at the study site. The sizes at which 50% of females and males of S. serrata reached sexual maturity (SM50) were estimated as an external carapace width (ECW) based on the morphology of the abdomen and the chela respectively. Two species, S. serrata and S. olivacea, were identified in the area with S. serrata being the dominant species (>95% of the catch). Changes in the mean ECW and the results of the release and recapture experiments suggested that the recruitment of young crabs to the fishery occurred from December/January to April/May. The SM50 of females and males occurred at 132.4 and 150.7 mm ECW respectively. The body size composition of S. serrata revealed that immature crabs comprised approximately 40 and 65% of the catch for females and males respectively. To maintain a sustainable fishery for S. serrata, a minimum landing size based on the SM50 estimates should be implemented as a fishing regulation.