The artisanal fishery of the sea-bob-shrimp is known as "sun to sun fishery" and is developed in large scale along the Brazilian coast, playing a significant economic, historical, social and cultural role. Nowadays, sea-bob-shrimp fisheries is classified as the highest economic interest and the second fisheries resource in the South-southeast coast of Brazil. Aiming to study the biology and fishery of the sea-bob-shrimp at Armação do Itapocoroy, Penha (26º40'-26º47'S and 48º36'-48º38'W), 30 minutes samples were performed monthly, from August 1996 to July 2003. Total and standard length, sex, maturation stages, biomass and total number of specimens were registered between 1996-1997 and 1999-2001. Between August 1998 and July 1999, the diet of X. kroyeri (Heller, 1862) was also studied. The species' total length varied from 3.0 to 16.0 cm and seasonal fluctuations in its abundance and biomass showed higher values along the summer and autumn months. The length/weight relationship indicated an isometric growth and first maturity occurring between 7.3 and 7.9 cm, reached in six months. The species presented two spawning peaks along the year, and the artisanal fishery showed a higher pressure over the adult stock. The trophic spectrum was composed by 30 items, being Gammaridae, sand, other crustaceans and organic matter the basic elements of its diet. A mean value of 67.82 vessels operate yearly during eight months on the sea-bob-shrimp fishery at Armação do Itapocoroy, yielding a total of up to 170 ton/year.
Artisanal fishery; natural diet; population structure; seasonal fluctuations
