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Title: Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Southwest). Spiny lobster. [Panulirus interruptus]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5390286

The spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) supports a valuable commercial and sport fishery along the southern California coast. Mating takes place from March to August in water 50 to 100 ft deep. The larvae pass through 11 pelagic stages in 7 to 9 months. the puerulus stage lasts another 2.5 months before the lobster transforms into the benthic form. Age at sexual maturity is 3 to 6 years for males and 5 to 9 years for females. Spiny lobsters are caught incommercial traps from October through March. Sport fishing for lobsters is mainly done by skin divers and scuba divers. Juveniles live in shallow coastal waters under the protection of plant cover; adults live in crevices or dens. Larvae are plankton feeders and adults are omnivorous, primarily scavengers. Because of a scarcity of information on larval food requirements and the slow larval growth rate, profitable mariculture of the spiny lobster currently is not feasible.

Research Organization:
Humboldt State Univ., Trinidad, CA (USA). Fred Telonicher Marine Lab.; Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Wetlands Research Center
OSTI ID:
5390286
Report Number(s):
TR-EL-82-4/82-11.47; ON: TI86901604
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English