The fishery and stock characteristics of the dominant species of
crab, Portunus sanguinolentus was studied along the Chennai
coast. The annual crab landings during the period 1998-2007
ranged from 236 t to 1,628 t with the catch rate fluctuating
between 0.78 kg/h and 2.01 kg/h. The carapace width of P.
sanguinolentus in the fishery was 41-165 mm for females and
41-155 mm for males. Females were dominant throughout the
period of study, the overall sex ratio 1:1.41