Determination of Size Selectivity of Traps for Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of trap selectivity of various mesh size on escape success of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). The study was carried out Çamlık Lagoon of Yumurtalık Gulf in the Mediterranean Sea and total of 1051 blue crabs were caught by rectangular baited trap. Using traps constructed with 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 mm square mesh the proportion of crabs escaping through each mesh size was measured for each half centimetre carapace width (CW) class. A logistic model was fitted to the size frequency data of the retained and escaped blue crabs for each mesh size in the experiment. L50 and selection range (SR) for the 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 mm (bar length) square meshes tested in this study was 8.47 cm and 0.85 cm; 9.31 cm and 0.39 cm; 10.40 cm and 0.31 cm; 11.72 cm and 1.17 cm; 13.17 cm and 0.89 cm respectively. The 50 mm square mesh of the trap showed relatively better selectivity considering the size at 50% sexual maturity of blue crab Callinectes sapidus, and the high rate of immature escapers

Keywords

• blue crab callinectes sapidus
• trap
• size selectivity
• mediterranean sea
• mavi yengeç callinectes sapidus
• tuzak
• boy seçiciliği
• akdeniz