Population structure of pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis in the Southeastern and Southern regions of Brazil

Abstract

Farfantepenaeus paulensis is a shrimp species also known as pink shrimp, which is usually found in the portion of the Brazilian coast ranging from Ilhéus (Bahia, Brazil) to Mar Del Plata (Argentina). This shrimp represents an important employment source for many Brazilian fishing families, and these have suffering of decline of this activity in the last years. The implementation of conservation programs is very important to preserve wild stocks of F. paulensis and provide shrimp for fishery, so a study of its population structure may provide the basis of this program. The purpose of this study is to analyze the population structure of pink shrimp F. paulensis at the Brazilian coast, in the south and southeast area, using microsatellite markers and its morphometrical parameters.