Sea Cage culture of spiny lobsters and natural

collection of lobster post – larvae (Puerulii)in India: –

An alternate employment / additional source of

income for coastal fishers.

Technology on fattening of Indian juvenile spiny lobsters Technology on fattening of Indian juvenile spiny lobsters Panulirus homarusPanulirus homarus

Background: From India under sized juvenile lobsters were exportBackground: From India under sized juvenile lobsters were exported to South East ed to South East

Asian countries for further fattening to marketable size.Asian countries for further fattening to marketable size.

Technology was developed to fatten the juvenile lobsters under cTechnology was developed to fatten the juvenile lobsters under captive conditions aptive conditions

using live feeds.using live feeds.

Maximum growth of 25 Maximum growth of 25 –– 27 g /month was achieved with almost 95% survival.27 g /month was achieved with almost 95% survival.

Species tried: Species tried: P. homarus, P. P. homarus, P. ornatusornatus, P. , P. versicolorversicolor and P. penicillatusand P. penicillatus

Suitable species: Suitable species: P. homarusP. homarusDo n

ot dis

semina

te with

out a

uthor

autho

rizati

on

Transfer of technology

•• The technology was transferred to coastal The technology was transferred to coastal

fishers through a pilot scale demonstrative fishers through a pilot scale demonstrative

cage culture.cage culture.

•• Size of stocking: 100 Size of stocking: 100 –– 125 g125 g

•• Maximum growth of 35 Maximum growth of 35 –– 37 g/month was 37 g/month was

achieved with almost 90% survival.achieved with almost 90% survival.

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

•• As a part of its societal programme to As a part of its societal programme to

enhance the earning capacity of coastal enhance the earning capacity of coastal

people in and around the islands, the NIOT people in and around the islands, the NIOT

decided to introduce sea cage culture of decided to introduce sea cage culture of

lobsters.lobsters. The NIOT has developed a floating The NIOT has developed a floating

cage for fattening of lobster in open sea. cage for fattening of lobster in open sea.

The cage has been successfully tested at The cage has been successfully tested at

Tharuvaikulam in Tharuvaikulam in ThoothukudiThoothukudi..Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

NIOT’s design (MS CAGE)

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

First demonstrational MS cage

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

NIOT’s Modified FRP Cage

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

Lobsters within the cage

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

NIOT’s demonstrational cage culture

site at Tharuvaikulam, Tamil Nadu

Lobster cage

M ussel culture poles

Lobster cage

M ussel culture poles

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

•• The beneficiaries were able to collect The beneficiaries were able to collect

approximately 34 lobster juveniles through approximately 34 lobster juveniles through

auto stocking over a period of 6 months in auto stocking over a period of 6 months in

the demonstrational cage culture activity. the demonstrational cage culture activity.

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

Live Feed Back – up facility

Mussel culture polesMussel culture poles

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

Monthly growth rate of lobsters

reared in sea cages

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

June-July July-Aug Aug-Sep Sep-Oct Oct-Nov Nov-Dec

Rearing period

Me

an

in

cre

me

nt

in w

eig

ht

(g)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Me

an

in

cre

me

nt

in c

ara

pa

ce

le

ng

th (

mm

)

Wt (g)

CL

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

One of the notable features of the cage culture One of the notable features of the cage culture

was that it acted as a lobster aggregating was that it acted as a lobster aggregating

device and many baby lobsters entered the device and many baby lobsters entered the

cage and grew with the stocked ones. cage and grew with the stocked ones.

More Numbers (rough estimate of More Numbers (rough estimate of

1250/site/year) of post 1250/site/year) of post –– larvae settled larvae settled

around the cages and returned with 95% around the cages and returned with 95%

survival.survival.

Juvenile lobster attracted

Some important observations Some important observations

made during the cage culturemade during the cage culture

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

Number of lobster post – larvae entered during the

demonstrational cage programme (6months)

3521.12.2003

2319.11.2003

116.10.2003

516.08.2003

2314.07.2003

502.07.2003

Number of post larvae (Puerulii/post Puerulii)Date

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

•• The arrival of new juveniles may be due to The arrival of new juveniles may be due to

the suitable substratum for settlement, the suitable substratum for settlement,

conspecificconspecific attraction and acoustic signals attraction and acoustic signals

emitted by the lobsters. emitted by the lobsters.

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation

Growth of puerulii in sea cages

•• The first measurement of post puerulii was The first measurement of post puerulii was

taken in August and its growth taken in August and its growth

•• was monitored for 10 months till the end of was monitored for 10 months till the end of

April 2004. From an average weight of 12g April 2004. From an average weight of 12g

in August 2003 the lobsters grew to 140g in in August 2003 the lobsters grew to 140g in

8 months time. This is a very fast growth 8 months time. This is a very fast growth

rate and theoretically makes it possible to rate and theoretically makes it possible to

grow spiny lobster post larvae to marketable grow spiny lobster post larvae to marketable

size of over 200g in a yearsize of over 200g in a year..Do n

ot dis

semina

te with

out a

uthor

autho

rizati

on

Involvement of Self Help Group women

under Rural Development ProgrammeTharuvaikulamTharuvaikulam

Do not

disse

minate

withou

t auth

or au

thoriz

ation