The most important coraniercial species (in order of their 

 importance in Nevj South Wales are Ketapenaeus macleayi , Penaeus plebejus , 

 Metapenaeus mastersi , Ketapenaeus incisipes , Penaeus esculentus , and 

 Penaeus carinatus. 



The major species of Queensland' s estuarine production are 

 Metapenaeus mastersi, Metapenaeus incisipes , Penaeus plebejus , Penaeus 

 esculentus , and Penaeus merfflii ensis , In ocean waters of this State 

 the production of Penaeus merguiensis occupies the leading place, with 

 that of Penaeus plebejus, Penaeus esculentus , Penaeus carinatus , and 

 Metapenaeus endeavouri ~following . 



Along Western Australia, Penaeus merguiensis and Penaeus 

 latisulcatus may become species of economic importance. 



The Australian distribution of Penaeus latisulcatus apparently 

 ranges to South Australia, where this species peems to be the only one 

 of commercial value. 



The comparatively cold waters along Victoria appear to be 

 inhabited by only a few east-coast species of economic importance. 

 Among them, Metapenaeus macleayi and Penaeus pi eb ejus occur with 

 certainty in quantities of commercial significance south of the Nevi 

 South Wales border. 



The small size of some of the species ( Pendcopsis novae - guineae , 

 Trachypeneus curvirostris , and T. anchoralis ) renders them commercially 

 Tiniraportant, although they may appear during the season in large schools. 



The annual catch of shrirap in the estuaries and in the sea 

 appears to be related to the rainfall. The greater the rainfall in the 

 previous 2 years, the greater the shrimp catch in a given year seems 

 to be. 



The mass migrations of prawns of all age groups from the 

 estuaries to the ocean during extensive floods is caused chiefly by the 

 rapid fall in salinity of inside viaters. With the return of normal 

 salinities in inside areas, prawns reenter the estuaries during the 

 ingoing tide, in all but the adult stages. Penaeid prawns usually enter 

 the comraercial catch in estuarine waters during the latter half of 

 November and are abundant until at least the first half of March. 

 Offshore coniraercial species usually begin to appear in schools around 

 the first half of January and are taken in quantities until the end of 

 June. In wet years, shrimp may be taken almost throughout the year. In 

 dry years, shrimp become scarce. 



Fishing gear and operations 



Offshore prawn trawlers are operating at present only in a 

 part of the inner littoral area. This area extends from the surf or 



69 



