TY - JOUR ID - TI - The Status of Kuwait's 2011/2012 Shrimp Fisheries AU - Hussain M. Al-Foudari AU - James M. Bishop AU - W. Chen PY - 2013 VL - Special IS - 2 SP - 283 EP - 305 JO - Basrah Journal of Agricultural Sciences مجلة البصرة للعلوم الزراعية SN - 18175868 AB - Kuwait's 2011/2012 shrimp catching season commenced on 1 August 2011, and ended on 31 January 2012. Fishermen landed 1,507 t of shrimp, with 10,760 boat-days of United Fisheries of Kuwait (UFK) effort. When compared to the previous season, this represented 25, 21 and 3% increases in landings, effort and catch per unit effort (CPUE), respectively. Despite the 25% increase in landings, this is well below the long-term average of 2,024 t. The 2011/12 landings were dominated by the dhow fleet, which landed 56% of the 2010/11 shrimp catch and accounted for 59% of the total effort in UFK boat-days. Landings by UFK vessels consisted of 53% Penaeus semisulcatus and about 47% Metapenaeus affinis. Landings by unlicensed dhow-boat accounted for 69% of the total dhow-fleet shrimp landings during the 2011/12 season. Forty-three percent of the shrimp landings originated from waters outside Kuwait’s jurisdiction. Since 2010, Kuwait’s shrimping fleet has undergone change. Formerly, the fleet consisted of 35 industrial steel-hull trawlers and 25 dhow boats. Currently, there are 71 vessels licensed to trawl for shrimp: 8 industrial boats and 63 fiberglas dhows. This change was accomplished by replacing the industrial boats with fiberglass dhow boats at a ratio of 1 to 1.4 ± 0.2 industrial boats to dhows. The total non-shrimp catch (by-catch) landed by the industrial fleets was 255 t. The UFK boats accounted for 143 t, while the National Fishing Company boats landed 112 t. Crabs dominated the UFK by-catch landings with 56 t. The total effort of the 2011/12 season was greater than that required for maximum optimum economic and biological yields. Preventing unlicensed dhow boats from shrimp trawling should be a management priority for future seasons.

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