Monitoring of coastal shellfish resources, January - December 1982

Trends in relative abundance and size of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus), white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus), pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in Texas bay systems and the Gulf of Mexico (shrimp only) were monitored from January-December 1982. Bag seines (18.3-m long) were used to sample along shorelines of bays, 6.1m wide otter trawls were used to sample the deeper (>=0.1m) portion of the bays and passes leading from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico, and 12.2-m wide trawls were used to sample Gulf waters. Shorelines and deeper portions of bays were sampled in Galveston, Matagorda, San Antonio, Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays and the upper and lower Laguna Madre. Passes were sampled in Galveston, Matagorda, Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays and the lower Laguna Madre and Gulf samples were collected along the central coast. Data summarized in this report represent the initiation of a program that will yield long term trends in abundance and stability of shellfish in Texas waters. Improved information on trends will result as the peaks of seasonal abundance are identified through time in the different areas sampled.