Relationship between body length, processed-meat length and seasonal change in net processed-meat yield of Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria in Tokyo Bay

ABSTRACT:   There is concern regarding a possible decrease in the minimum exploitable size of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria in Tokyo Bay, coincident with a decline in stock size. To assess this problem, the condition factor, the relationship between body length and processed-meat length, and the estimated body length for each market size category were investigated and compared monthly. The condition factor was lowest in spring and peaked in winter. The difference between body length and meat length was higher in summer and winter than in spring and autumn, suggesting that a high condition factor does not result in an increased net yield of processed meat. The annual mean minimum exploitable size in the present low-stock-size condition did not differ from the minimum exploitable size measured during a high-stock-size period (11-cm body length). However, the minimum exploitable size changed seasonally, which coincided with seasonal change in the net processed-meat yield. Exploitation during the season when net meat yield is high would result in increase of the large-sized meat products of high price.