Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Estimates of the stocks of the spiny lobster Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst) in the trawling gounds off Bombay

Volume 36 Issue 1&2

P. V. Kagwade

Abstract

Panulirus polyphagus  is one of the major species contributing about 87.2% to the average annual landings of 341 tonnes of the spiny lobsters landed at 6 selected lobster landing centers of this country during 1978-85. This particular species is landed in 4 of those selected centers and among then :Bombay contributed as much as 63.67%to it.

Stock studies reveal that total mortality coefficient ‘Z’ is 1.76 for males and 1.15 for females. Growth parameters determined by Kagwade (1987a) are made use of in estimating the natural mortality coefficient ‘M’ the values of which are 0.33 for males and 0.35 for females. The fishing mortality coefficient ‘F’ deduced from these, equals 1.43 for males and 0.080 for females. The total stock estimated is 452.66 t, the standing stock is 271.12 t, and the maximum sustainable yield is 168.42 t.

Date : 30-12-1994