Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819 is one abundant Portunidae speeies whieh are eaught by sea-bob-shrimps artisanal fishery in Armaçãodo Itapoeoroy,Penha, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Aiming to analyze its population strueture, a total of 995 males and 1925 fernaleswere eollected by means of overtrawl frorn January to Decernber 1995, between the depthsof 610 10meters,in lhe periodsof morning,afternoonand evening. The width variation of lhe carapaee ranged írom 3.0 to 14.0 em in the males and 3.0 to 11.0emin females. The species presents growth isometric and the males reach width and weight assintoticand bigger that lhe females.The estirnatedfirst maturation width was between 6.8 and 7.6 em, reached with lhe approxirnated age of 15 months. The artisanal fishery in Armação do lrapocoroy is acting with a higher intensity over the juveniles stock.
Portunus spinimanus; population structure; artisanal fishery