Abstract

At the Pearl Cays Wildlife Refuge, Nicaragua, the growth of 90 lobsters (P. argus), cultivated with densities of 5, 10 and 15 lobsters/m2, was evaluated, with three replicates each, for 90 days (three months), fed with discarded fish and sardines at 10% of their total biomass, with the aim of determining whether there is a significant difference in the growth and survival of lobsters according to the density, and thus, generate basic information to contribute to the promotion of aquaculture activity in the region in a future, activity that would contribute to the sustainable management of the resource and the improvement of the economic rate of fishermen. Monthly trips were made to the Black Mangrove Cay during the growing period (December, January and February) for the collection of sampling data once a month. Lobsters growth was recorded and Weight Gain (%), Weight Increase, Specific Growth Rate (%), Final Biomass and Survival were determined. A variance analysis (ANOVA) of one factor was performed with 95% reliability, and with a post hoc test, Tukey Test, it was determined that there was higher growth in lobsters with density of 15/m2.