Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture

Unit 6- Crustaceans

6.4.4. Biology
Food and feeding
Lobsters generally feed on smaller crustaceans, molluscs and polychaetes, fishes and other animals which inhabit in the bottom of the sea. The main food item is known to be the mussel.
Size at first maturity
Male P. polyphagus attains sexual maturity at 175 mm TL, whereas majority of males mature at 265 mm TL. P. homarus attains sexual maturity at 55 mm CL and majority of females start breeding at sizes above 60 mm CL. P. ornatus starts breeding at 90 mm CL (250 mm TL)
Spawning season
P. polyphagus is found to breed almost throughout the year with a peak breeding season extending from August to October. Similarly, P. homarus also breeds throughout the year and the peak breeding season is found to be from November-December along the southwest coast and January-March along the southeast coast. P. homarus normally breeds in the shallow waters, whereas P. ornatus breeds at relatively deeper areas. Larvae are found to be abundant at 100 m depth.
Fecundity
Spiny lobsters are highly fecund and fecundity ranges from 50,000 to 10, 00,000 eggs depending upon the species and the size of lobster.
Marketing
Maximum lobster (49% valuewise) is exported to Japan. The export value of lobster was Rs. 1846 lakhs in 2003.