Resource Enhancement of Chinese Shrimp, Penaeus Orientalis

Experiments on resources enhancement by releasing juvenile Chinese shrimp, Penaeus orientalis into the sea were carried out during 1983–1987 after a 2-year multidisciplinary survey of the marine environment and living resources of Jiaozhou Bay on the Yellow Sea coast of Shandong Peninsula. The released shrimp grew rapidly and migrated out of the Bay for feeding by the end of August and early September. They reached marketable size in September and were fished intensively during September–November. The population density and total number of shrimp were estimated every August and September to predict (evaluate) the effect of fishing. Commercial restocking of large numbers of juvenile shrimp was practiced in 1984–1986. The stock size of Chinese shrimp in Jiaozhou Bay area in August of 1984–1986 was increased and maintained at a high level of 26,484⋅10³ to 41,486⋅10³, being 4.1–7.3 times that of 1981 which was considered the record autumn shrimp stock in Jiaozhou Bay before the releasing practice. The increase in local shrimp catches in 1984–1986, several times that of 1981–1983, was due to the stock enhancement practices. The stock size and total production of the shrimp decreased abruptly in 1987 when the releasing practice was interrupted because of insufficient postlarvae and juveniles. Based on the results of our experiments, we are very optimistic about enhancing wild stocks of Chinese shrimp using hatchery-reared releases.