Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North coast of Gulf of Oman: with emphasis on spiny lobster - Survey in ...
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Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences 8(2) 81-90 2022
Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North
coast of Gulf of Oman: with emphasis on spiny lobster
Panulirus homarus
Ajdari A.1; Mirzaei M.R.1*
Received: July 2021 Accepted: December 2021
Abstract:
Spiny lobsters are one of the most important commercial and highly priced crustaceans
along the Southern coast of Iran (Sistan and Baluchistan Province). In the last three
decades, the economy of a large part of the fishermen population has been directly
dependent on it. The lobster fishing rate decreased from 42 t in 1989 to 1 t in 2004.
This has been attributed to the effects of improper fishing methods and overfishing.
Meanwhile, Oman, as a leading country in the fishing industry in the Gulf of Oman,
produced 450 t of lobster in 2016, compared to 416 t in 2015. Little attention has been
paid to lobsters by related organizations. This neglect in framing and enforcing fishing
regulations has led to heavy fishing pressure on this vulnerable resource along the
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southern coast of Iran. For this reason, some efforts have been made by researchers at
the Iranian fisheries science research institute, such as the Preliminary study of lobster
biology, feeding biology and ecology, designing the appropriate lobster trap, designing
an artificial reef as a shelter for lobster; and some experimental research is currently
underway to assess population dynamics and maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
Furthermore, the release of artificially raised lobster juveniles contributes to the re-
establishment or enhancement of lobster stocks. However, one of the main problems for
successful restock programs has been the lack of inexpensive methods for juvenile
production.
Keywords: Scalloped spiny lobster, Stock enhancement, Gulf of Oman,
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
1-Offshore Fisheries Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute,
Agricultural Research Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Chabahar, Iran
*Corresponding e-mail: mirzaei.mr@gmail.com82 Ajdari and Mirzaei, Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North coast of Gulf of …
Introduction Iranian fisheries science research
The family Palinurtdae (Phylum institute in Sistan and Baluchestan
Arthropoda: Class Crustacea), province over the past two decades. The
commonly known as spiny or rock ultimate goal of these studies has been
lobster is a commercially important to provide a broader vision of the
marine and brackish water group with a fisheries system, sustainable
large number of genera (Jayakody, exploitation and improved stock
1991). The scalloped spiny lobster enhancement. During these studies, the
Panulirus homarus is widespread in the amount of catch, fishing gear, time of
tropical and subtropical waters of the exploitation, annual catch rate, size at
Indo-West Pacific, from eastern South first maturity, minimum catch size of
Africa to Somalia, along the Arabian lobster for fishing and some biological
Peninsula, and from India and aspects such as reproductive
Indonesia to Japan and Australia characteristics and growth parameters
(Yellapu et al., 2017). It extends into have been identified and introduced. In
the Arabian Sea along the coasts of this regard, many management
Yemen and Oman, continues to the strategies are presented in the form of
southeastern coast of Iran in Gulf of instructions and regulations. Up to now
Oman. Their habitat varies greatly stock enhancement methods are useful
among species and typically grows to a fishery management tool to declines in
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length of 20–25 cm and lives in shallow lobster populations and given the
water, usually 1–5 meters deep, current situation, the main focus should
including among rocks in the surf zone, be on lobster stock enhancement.
but occasionally up to 90 m (Suryandari
et al., 2018). Economic value of lobster
Little attention has been paid to Lobsters are sold fresh, live, frozen,
lobsters by related organizations. This cooked frozen, smoked, salted and
neglect in framing and enforcing dried depending on the taste and needs
fishing regulations has led to heavy of different countries (Venugopal,
fishing pressure on this vulnerable 2005). Lobster export trade is profitable
resource along the south coast of Iran. in the world. The main exporting
The most important reasons for countries are; Canada, the United
declining lobster stocks are illegal States, Australia, New Zealand, India
fishing and the use of non-standard and Vietnam. The average global price
caching methods in catching this of lobster is $ 42.59 per kg on July
valuable aquatic species, destruction of 2020. Its price in Europe was between $
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
lobster habitats, lack of culture 40 and $ 70 (at New Year's Eve) during
technology, lack of knowledge in the the last year (Tridge, 2020). The main
field of ecology and low survival rate of factors for the growth of the global
puerulus. For this reason, some efforts lobster market are: seafood is superior
have been made by researchers at the to other types of animal meat, richJournal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences 8(2) 2022 83
sources of nutrition, and ultimately the orientalis and Scyllarides squammosus
development of the aquaculture growth are two other species of lobsters in the
process will further develop the market. Gulf of Oman, belonging to the family
With the increase in the use of of Scyllaridae. Scyllarides squammosus
packaged foods, restaurants have found or blunt slipper lobster lives on soft
a variety of lobster dishes, and substrate of sand or mud and is usually
changing consumer tastes will continue found at depths of 20 - 90 m. Thenus
to drive the market. Currently, more orientalis or flathead lobster prefers a
than half of lobsters are produced in the mixture of sand or mud substrate in
United States. In addition, due to strong depth range of 8-100 m (Ezhdehakosh
domestic consumer demand, the United pour, 2016).
States also imports lobster from other
countries. As a result, by the end of Statue of lobster in Gulf of Oman
2025, the global lobster market is Lobster is one of Iran's most valuable
expected to exceed 400,000 tons and expensive crustaceans and an
(Research and Markets, 2020). important export product. Although it is
distributed throughout the Iranian coast,
Lobster species in southern waters of the main fisheries are on the east
Iran (Ramin and Bris) and west (part and
At present three species of spiny lobster Pozm) coast of Sistan and Baluchestan
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and two species of slipper lobster have province. Because of its economic
been documented from the Gulf of value and its importance as a valuable
Oman (Ajdari et al., 2016). The export market, the economy of a part of
scalloped spiny lobster, Panulirus the fishing community in this region
homarus is the most widely distributed was directly dependent on it in last
in this region and it is also the most three decades. Overexploitation and
important commercial species of spiny illegal fishing led to lobster stock
lobster in the North coast of Gulf of depletion so that the lobster fishing rate
Oman. Panulirus polyphagus, a mud decreased from 42 t in 1989 to 7 t and
spiny lobster, is another species of then 1 t in 2003 and 2004, respectively
spiny lobster on the North coast of the (Fig. 1).
Gulf of Oman. It is a species of Overall, due to destructive fishing
crustacean that lives on shallow rocky practices, overfishing and illegal
reefs and muddy substrates and usually actions by some fishermen, lobster
found from 3 to 90 m depth. Panulirus catches in Oman’s coastal waters have
versicolor, painted spiny lobster is one declined in recent decades. Reported
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
of the three most common varieties of lobster catch from Oman coastal waters
spiny lobster in Iran. This species is have declined from about 2000 tons in
found in shallow tropical waters, coral 1988 to only about 158 tons in 2011. In
reef ecosystems and coral reef plateaus Pakistan, lobster fishing along the coast
at depths of up to 15 m. Thenus of Balochistan Province (Sindh region)84 Ajdari and Mirzaei, Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North coast of Gulf of …
has practically stopped because the the marine fisheries department of
catch of these expensive marine Pakistan, has declined from 300 to 400
crustaceans has been greatly reduced. to three to four specimens over three
Although lobster catches have been decades, while the price has jumped
greatly reduced over the years, the from (minimum) Rs 30 to Rs 2,000 now
species is still caught indiscriminately. for a single lobster (Pereira and
The lobster catch per boat, according to Josupeit, 2017).
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Figure 1: Historical catch of lobster over the years in North coast of Gulf of Oman (Sistan and
Baluchestan Province).
While Oman has conducted extensive Southeast of Sistan and Baluchistan
studies such as changing the fishing province. In recent years, the biological
season to improve stocks. Fishing and economic aspects of P. homarus
season of Oman along the Arabian Sea lobster fishing in the waters of the Gulf
coast was shifted from 15 October-15 of Oman in Iran have been studied.
December (2003-2008) to March-April These include; biosystematics and
(2010-2014) by the decision of the biological characteristics (Sari, 1991),
Ministry of Fisheries. As a result, with a size and age composition of populations
production of 430 tons in 2016 and 416 as dynamical systems (Fatemi, 1998),
tons in 2015, compared to 302 tons in and fishing management (Mashaii and
2014, production has increased by 32 to Rajabipour, 2003).
40 percent.
Due to the limited supply of other Ecological Characteristics of lobster
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
species in Iran, the scallop lobster habitat
Panulirus homarus is the only lobster Stock enhancement activities based on
species used in this area. All lobsters ecological characteristics of the lobster
caught are exported and therefore play habitats must be considered due to the
an important role in the fisheries of decreased lobster stocks. Water andJournal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences 8(2) 2022 85
sediment samples of the lobster habitats the biggest and smallest lobster was 34
in Ramin as a main important lobster and 112 mm, respectively.
habitat in southeastern Iran (Sistan and Differences in reproductive size
baluchestan Province) were studied by were observed of the entire study area,
Mashaii et al. (2013). The annual with a range of 55 mm CL for the
average values of water temperature, smallest berried females and a range of
water salinity, dissolved oxygen; pH 64-69 mm CL in the 50% maturity size.
and turbidity were 25.56±2.8°C, The maximum spawning rate was
38.77±1.71 g/lit, 6.07±1.12mg/lit, observed in spring (March and April)
8.22±0.17 and 3.03±2.98, respectively. and individuals in this season were
The annual frequency of macrobenthos bigger than autumn, but a lot of
was 133 individuals/m2. The maximum autumnal catch were undersized
and minimum abundances of individuals (59% undersize) and this
macrobenthos were observed in May shows seasonal migration in different
and November, respectively. The length groups. Therefore, seasonal
highest average number of behavior such as the time of maximum
macrobenthos belonged to spawning rate is important in order to
cephalochordata, polychaeta, nematoda, catch season determination. A
ostracoda, gastropoda, bivalves and Comparison of the total catch in the sea
amphipoda. and landing site shows that illegal catch
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in spring is larger than autumn.
Growth studies Furthermore, they suggested
Fishery resource assessment is the key management measures include
to development and improvement of prohibition on possession of eggbearing
management methods for exploited females, shift of the fishing season,
stocks. Analysis of specific parameters minimum legal size of carapace (70
provides information regarding the state mm).
of the stock and indicators of The carapace length (Lm50%) is
exploitation levels. Some biological used to determine the minimum legal
characteristics such as length size for commercial fishing; in fact, it is
frequency, peak of spawning time and the length of the carapace that at least
carapace length at first maturity were 50% of the lobsters are mature during
investigated by Rastiannassab et al. the spawning season. In 2009, Azhir et
(2002) during spring and autumn in the al. (2009) reported that the minimum
North coast of Gulf of Oman. These legal size in North coast of Sistan and
qualitative parameters along with Baluchestan province is 69-71 mm of
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
quantitative features in catch carapace length. Detailed examination
composition (such egged and unegged on some biological parameters in catch
females and undersized individuals) in composition of lobster by Rastiannasab
autumn and spring were compared. and Hossaini (2015) showed that
Based on the results, carapace length of86 Ajdari and Mirzaei, Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North coast of Gulf of …
minimum legal size was 70 cm advantage of using this type of trap in
carapace length. the North coast of Gulf of Oman.
Furthermore, Azhdehakosh pour et al.
Spiny lobster fishing methods and gear (2013) modified the lobster trap by
Due to the increase in demand, lobster designing appropriate escape vents in
fishing activities have been extensively terms of shape, position, and size to
developed in the world and have led to improve size selectivity by reducing the
high exploitation. But it is well known catch of immature and juvenile lobster
that the use of illegal fishing methods in the North coast of Gulf of Oman.
such as catch of berried females and
undersized lobsters has caused serious Spiny lobster aquaculture
problems in developing countries Both raising of wild-caught
including Iran. Different countries use pueruli/juveniles and the propagation of
different methods and equipment such larvae from egg to the puerulus stage
as traps, pots, and a type of anchor were investigated by researchers in the
shaped hooks and gill nets to catch North coast of the Gulf of Oman.
lobsters (Jayakody, 1991). In India
lobsters caught in shallow waters using Hatchery
drop nets, whereas in deeper waters The culture of spiny lobsters from egg
(>100m), they are caught by traps to the puerulus stage has now been
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(pots), operated by powered vessels achieved for spiny lobster species.
(Radhakrishnan et al., 2019). Several Studies to bring these to the full
methods were used to catch lobsters in commercial aquaculture level are
Iran. Fishing activity with gillnets to currently under way in several
capture the spiny lobster was a common countries. The early stages of the
method along the Iranian coastal water. Panulirus homarus were hatched and
Furthermore, the analysis reared in the laboratory by Balouch
of bycatch species from artisanal (2009). In this study, a new culture tank
fishermen's gillnet recorded some was designed for illustrating the early
lobster species. Some slipper lobsters stages and instars of each stage in P.
that prefer soft substrates were recorded homarus in the laboratory. The females
in trawl nets along the North coast of with eggs were captured from their
the Gulf of Oman. Lobster trap is habitat and carefully brought into the
another gear that used in lobster fishing laboratory. The larvae were transferred
in this area. The efficiency of traps and to a tank of circulating water with a
gillnet was studied by Zarshenas (1993) density of 10 larvae per litter. The first
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
on the North coast of the Gulf of Oman. complete phyllosoma culture of P.
The results of this study showed that homarus was accomplished in the
traps are much more efficient than laboratory. About 60 stages I
gillnets. The existence of small escape phyllosoma were cultured at 27-30◦C,
vent for juvenile lobsters was another being fed with nauplii of Artemia at theJournal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences 8(2) 2022 87
initial stages. The phyllosoma did not to 10-30 g. Results of this study showed
grow beyond stage III, even though it that post-pueruli survival was
survived up to 10 days. The survival of significantly higher and the growth rate
pueruli in this study was much higher at in post puerulus was much faster than
83% in stage II and 100% in stage III. the growth rate of puerulus.
The larvae molted three times, once at
stages I to II, two times at stage III. It is Fattening
believed that the mortality rate is due to There is no recorded literature on the
insufficient supply of nutrients at the initiation of the lobster culture on a
phyllosoma stage to support energy commercial basis in Iran. The study of
consumption and development during lobster culture in concrete ponds was
the non-feeding puerulus stage. carried out by (Haghpanah et al., 2016)
Anyway, the larvae (phyllosoma) phase during four months with the goal of
involves several distinct morphological economic and sustainable development
and molt stages. Although the the small of the lobster culture system. The
number of phyllosoma have grown lobsters were fed by trash fish at the
successfully to pueruli stage in Japan rate of 5% body weight per day. The
and New Zealand, but the development average weight growth of lobsters and
of hatcheries is far from commercial the average length growth of carapace
success. were equal to 81±8.76 g and 7.2±2.6
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mm, respectively. Results of this study
Nursery phase showed the average weight growth
However, free-swimming larvae can be (±SE) of male P. homarus reared at
found and collected in the wild. In order different stocking densities of the
to collect these post larvae, technology existing body.
has been developed that enables post
larvae to reach a commercial size and Conclusion
have a much higher survival rate than in In summary, lobster seems to have been
the wild. When some artificially grown, extensively exploited, and current
mature lobsters are returned to the sea, regulations are not sufficient to recover
the population can grow and recover. In from years of overfishing of lobster and
a study by Aminrad et al. (2013) protect the population from the collapse
puerulus and post puerulus lobsters in Gulf of Oman. The sharp decline of
with an average weight of 0.77 and 11.8 lobster fisheries along the coast of
g were collected by collectors at North Sistan and Balochistan is still a major
coast of Gulf of Oman. The amount of problem, and other management
[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
larval requirement food was calculated measures are urgently needed, such as
based on 15% of their body weight and reducing the pressure on the fishery,
feeding by trash fish, bivalve and squid. especially the illegal fishery of spawner
The nursery phase lasted for 3-6 females and juvenile lobsters,
months, during which the lobsters grow conservation of critical habitat such as88 Ajdari and Mirzaei, Lobster Fishery and aquaculture development in the North coast of Gulf of …
spawning and nursery areas, a reliable vent of the pot for spiny rock lobster
fishery statistics database needs to be (Panulirushomarous) in terms of
established in order to make more position and size,
accurate estimates of stocks, improve (SistanandBalouchestanProvince _
fishing gear and control illegal, IRAN). Marine Biology, 4(4), 1-10.
unreported and unregulated catches, (in Persian).
establish and enforce strict rules for Azhir, M.T., Hosseini, A., Darbani,
offending fishermen, banning the use of A.R., Mahdavi, M., Azini, M. and
gillnets on the entire Northern coast of Sari, A.R., 2009. A survey on some
the Gulf of Oman and replacing them biological aspects of spiny lobster
with traps may prevent the exploitation Panulirus homarus for optimizing
of juvenile lobster, which account for a fishing season in Sistan - o –
large part of the catch. Finally, it is Baluchestan provnce, Final Report.
important to establish some form of Chabahar, Iran: Offshore Fisheries
cooperation among fishers, scientists, Research Center, Iranian Fisheries
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of juvenile stages of the spiny lobster
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[ DOI: 10.18331/SFS2022.8.1.7 ]
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