The distribution pattern and abundance of deep sea spiny lobster Puerulus sewelli in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is described based on the exploratory surveys by the survey vessels of Fishery Survey of India employing various bottom trawls in the east and west coast of India from 1984 to 2006. The survey revealed that the best catches of spiny lobsters occurred in area 11° N lat. along the Kerala coast in the depth zone of 300-500m with mean catch per unit effort of 29.18 kg/hr, followed by the area between 8° and 9° N lat. in the Arabian Sea off Kerala coast in the same depth contour. The catch rate recorded for the species from the east coast between the area 7° N and 13° N lat. ranged from a minimum of 0.23kg/hr to maximum of 3.42 kg/hr. The study indicates that there is a depletion of deep sea lobster P. sewelli in the outer continental shelf and slope areas. Further investigations to understand the biology and population dynamics of the deep-sea lobster is a prerequisite for their management.

Puerulus sewelli, deep sea lobster, abundance, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal