Synopsis of the biology and exploitation of the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, in Western Australia

........................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................... 2 2.0 Biology ............................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Taxonomy ................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Description .............................................................................................. 3 2.3 Distribution and life history .................................................................... 3 2.4 Bionomics .............................................................................................. 6 2.5 Growth and longevity................................................................................ 8 2.6 Reproduction .......................................................................................... 9 3.0 Stock assessment and exploitation................................................................ 10 3.1 Population characteristics ........................................................................ 10 3.2 Factors affecting distribution .................................................................. 11 3.3 History of fishing in Western Australia .................................................. 13 4.0 Current blue crab research in Australia and Western Australia .............. 15 4.1 National collaborative research programs .............................................. 15 4.2 Current WA research projects ................................................................ 15 5.0 References .................................................................................................... 16 6.0 Figures ............................................................................................................ 20

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