81
depends on the balance between the size of the male and female. The size difference
increases or eliminates the chance of mating. Male individuals may mate with one
or two female individuals within a 2-day period. Females can also mate with more
than one male. The sperm can be collected and stored in the seed section of the
female for 9–13 months. When the female lays eggs at the time of ovulation, she
also performs fertilization by releasing the sperm at the same time. Fertilized eggs
adhere to the hairy section under the tail. The spawning efficiency of a female individual is approximately 300,000 eggs. The female carries her eggs in her body for
10–12 months as the incubation period (Alpbaz 1993). Hatching usually occurs
between May and September with a peak in June and July depending on water temperature. The hatched larvae spend 4–6 weeks in the water column before moulting
into a final stage. They then start to seek out a suitable rocky bottom habitat to settle
into and develop into juvenile lobsters (Irish Sea Fisheries Board 2019).
Some Species of Marine Lobsters
The lobster category includes four main commercial species: European lobster
(Homarus gammarus), American lobster (Homarus americanus), rock lobster
(Jasus spp.), and tropical or spiny lobster (Panulirus spp. or Palinurus spp.) (Nguyen
et al. 2017). Mostly harvested in America and Canada, H. americanus, known as
American lobster, has been reported to be the most widely produced species in the
world (Annie and McCarron 2006). The second most important species is the spiny
lobster, which accounts for 38% of global production, and the third is Rock lobster,
most of which is harvested in Australia and accounts for 6% of total production
(Gary 2012).
Spiny lobster fishery is mainly from Australia, United Kingdom, United States of
America, South Africa, Japan, France, New Zealand, and India. Spiny lobsters are
found in warmer seas throughout the world. They are also called as rock lobster,
spiny lobster, sea crawfish, langouste and langosta (Smith and Walton 1958). It is
stated that there are about six species in the submerged rocky patches along the
coast in India. The species in the order of commercial importance are Panulirus
homarus (Linnaeus), Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst), Panulirus ornatus (Fabricus),
Panulirus versicolor (Latrielle), Panulirus penicillatus (Olivier) and Panulirus longipes (Milne Edwards) (Mohan Rajan et al. 1981).
There are many lobster species belonging to many families. This book will provide information about some species of commercial importance. These are summarized as follows.
Family Nephropidae
They are moderate to large sized crustaceans. Carapace with well-developed rostrum, ornamented with spines or nodules. Eyes usually well developed and black or
small and lacking pigmentation. First three pairs of legs form true pincers and the
2.3 Lobsters
depends on the balance between the size of the male and female. The size difference
increases or eliminates the chance of mating. Male individuals may mate with one
or two female individuals within a 2-day period. Females can also mate with more
than one male. The sperm can be collected and stored in the seed section of the
female for 9–13 months. When the female lays eggs at the time of ovulation, she
also performs fertilization by releasing the sperm at the same time. Fertilized eggs
adhere to the hairy section under the tail. The spawning efficiency of a female individual is approximately 300,000 eggs. The female carries her eggs in her body for
10–12 months as the incubation period (Alpbaz 1993). Hatching usually occurs
between May and September with a peak in June and July depending on water temperature. The hatched larvae spend 4–6 weeks in the water column before moulting
into a final stage. They then start to seek out a suitable rocky bottom habitat to settle
into and develop into juvenile lobsters (Irish Sea Fisheries Board 2019).
Some Species of Marine Lobsters
The lobster category includes four main commercial species: European lobster
(Homarus gammarus), American lobster (Homarus americanus), rock lobster
(Jasus spp.), and tropical or spiny lobster (Panulirus spp. or Palinurus spp.) (Nguyen
et al. 2017). Mostly harvested in America and Canada, H. americanus, known as
American lobster, has been reported to be the most widely produced species in the
world (Annie and McCarron 2006). The second most important species is the spiny
lobster, which accounts for 38% of global production, and the third is Rock lobster,
most of which is harvested in Australia and accounts for 6% of total production
(Gary 2012).
Spiny lobster fishery is mainly from Australia, United Kingdom, United States of
America, South Africa, Japan, France, New Zealand, and India. Spiny lobsters are
found in warmer seas throughout the world. They are also called as rock lobster,
spiny lobster, sea crawfish, langouste and langosta (Smith and Walton 1958). It is
stated that there are about six species in the submerged rocky patches along the
coast in India. The species in the order of commercial importance are Panulirus
homarus (Linnaeus), Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst), Panulirus ornatus (Fabricus),
Panulirus versicolor (Latrielle), Panulirus penicillatus (Olivier) and Panulirus longipes (Milne Edwards) (Mohan Rajan et al. 1981).
There are many lobster species belonging to many families. This book will provide information about some species of commercial importance. These are summarized as follows.
Family Nephropidae
They are moderate to large sized crustaceans. Carapace with well-developed rostrum, ornamented with spines or nodules. Eyes usually well developed and black or
small and lacking pigmentation. First three pairs of legs form true pincers and the
2.3 Lobsters