Abstract

Aquaculture of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, may be a means of increasing production of this valuable species without depleting wild stocks. At present, however, full life cycle aquaculture has not been successful, so efforts have focused on the grow-out of lobsters from puerulus post-larval stages legally harvestable size. In this study, growth and survival of lobsters grown in captivity from puerulus stage was examined in the Bahamas and Belize using low cost natural food sources and simple flow-through seawater systems. Growth rates of lobsters fed a diet of cerithid gastropods produced the greatest growth rates, at a ration of 0.1 g of snails per gram of lobster biomass fed twice daily. Growth rates using a variety of feeds, however, produced legally harvestable lobsters in a period of less than two years. Lobster survival ranged greatly, from as little as 3% mortality per month to >30% mortality per month during incidents of disease. Regular sources of mortality included death during molting and cannibalism of newly molted lobsters. Periodic disease outbreaks, however were the greatest source of lobster deaths, but the effect of disease was reduced by the addition of improved filtration and ultraviolet sterilization of seawater. Based on the results of these experiments, the grow-out of juvenile lobsters to legally harvestable size may be achieved at a low cost, however, further investigations into disease prevention, and ensuring an adequate supply of puerulus and high quality feed for juveniles is essential

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