Studies on the growth of the blue crab C. danae were carried out by the analysis of size-frequency distributions, and the growth curves were determined for both sexes through Bertalanffy equation. 613 males and 511 females were obtained from 10 collecting sites of the lagoon, at night, monthly from January/88 to July/89. The growth curves in carapace width were described according to the following equations: Wid∞ = 14.0 (1-e-0,6975.t) for males and Wid∞ = 13.3 (1-e-0,6555.t) for females. The growth curves in body weigth were also determined, based on the equations of the growth curves and the relationship between body weight and carapace width. The equations are:Wt = 156.9 (1-e-0,6975.t)2.9153 for males, Wt = 134.0(1-e-0.6555.t)2.8994 for females.
Callinectes danae; growth curves; Conceição Lagoon; Florianópolis; Brazil