A raft and four nylon cages were constructed to study the growth of fishes, prawns and lobsters. One of these cages of 2.5 x 1.6 x 4.0 m size was specially designed for lobster culture in the new harbour area at Tuticorin

Kuthalingam, M D K

Srikrishnadhas, B

Sundararaj, V

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d salinity. Further es· and green crab, also lead to poor ns in the fish farm The prospects of the brackish water Nadu. Sem. mari-ch. Fishing. Proc. Govt. of Tamil ~. Das and S. C. Culture of Brackish impoundments in [ndo-Pacific F:ish 1/9: 13pp. 172. Experimental ~rowth in Penaeus us, Sem. Maricul-Fishing, Proc. Govt. of Tamil littoral fauna of in the Gulf of Govt. of Tamil IS, Madras. An approach to culture in Tamil iculture and mech. H. Fisheries, Govt. Proc. Natl. Scm. Cage Pen Culture, 1983 STUDIES ON THE GROWTH OF SPINY LOBSTER. PANULJRUS HOMARUS IN MARINE CAGES B. SRIKRISHNADHAS, V. SUNDARARAJ AND M. D. K. K lJTHALlNG~M Fisheries College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tuticorin _ 628 008 ABSTRACT A raft and four nylon cages were constructed to study the f!rowth of fishes, prawns and lobsters. One of these cages of 2.5 x 1.6 x 4.0 m size was specially designed for lobster culture in the new harbour area at Tuticorin. The cage was provided with a bottom tray with 10 cm dia. P. V. C. tube bits of 0.5 - 2 .Om leng th open at both the elld~ , The cage was stocked with 40 nos of young Panulirus homarus with an average weight of 19.7 g. At the end of the experimental period of eight monThs, a nlOximum .gl'bWlh '.o/2J()g .. was abs.etved wUlz (f ,sw'viVtll t«tc of 57.5%. The majo'" "Q1lSlra./lll ill t.oge-cuItJlre oj lobsters ill mar/lle '(mdiJifJlIs me dealt with and the possible means to overcome the problems are also analysed. INTRODUCTION Experimental culture of spiny lobs-t~rs are in progress in countries like China, Japan, Korea and USA (Ling, 1972). An earJ;er review by Provenzano (1969) deals with the studies made on the larvae of spiny lobsters and slipper lobsters. A later review by Chittleborough (1974) commenting on the status and problems of lobster culture tells upon the prospects of rearing rock lobsters also. Studies on the growth of Indian spiny lobsters in India carried out at different centres are mainly confined in controlled conditions (Mohamed and GeorgI", 1968; Thomas, 1972; Kathirvel. 1973 and Kuthalingam et al., 1980). Previous studies on the cultura-bility of spiny lobsters were mainly con-ducted in experimental tanks or pens erected in the coastal waters. But the present study on the growth of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus was carried out in a cage suspended in the coastal waters of Tuticorin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Construction of the lobster cage A floating raft was constructed by means of casuarina poles. nylon rope and empty oIl drums. Four nylon mes. hed cages were suspended from the raft for the culture of fishes, prawns and • - 104-lobsters. Oneofthe cages, 2.5xt 6x4 Om was specially designed for tbe culture of lobsters. The bottom of the cage was fitted with a tray made of thin GI shet:t and its height was 10 cm. Two crosS bars were provided at the bottom of the tray and two hooks were fitted on each bar for fixing the P. V. C. tubes. The boltom of the tray was provided with 1 cm dia. holes at a regular intervel of about 30 cm. P. V. C. tube bi ts of different lengths (0.5 m to 2.0 m) and diameter (7. ~-1O. Oem) were arranged in 3 rows at right angle to each other in the middle of the tray on the two cross bars. The tubes were arranged in both the upper and lower rows length wise and a middle row was along the breadth - wise so as to give more space for the lobsters to Jive. Tbe arranged tubes were tied on to one another and also with the tray finally by means of a nylon rope. P. V. C. solvent was also applied in between the tubes to assure additional strengtb. The whole structure was launched in Tutlcorin new harbour basin and stabi-lized by meaDS of anchors. Young ones of Panutirus homaruy were collected from the coastal waters of Tuticorin during February and March. Forty numbers of young ones of the size 2.0 - 3.2 em (carapace length) with an average weight of 19.7 g were stockedin the cage in March 1982. The stocking density was maintained at the rate of 10 nos I m \I. The lobsters were periodically fed with trasb fish. Sinceth~ fouling organisms attach on the mesh of the cage and also on the P. V.C. housing, c1eaningwas donetwicea month. Clay, barnacles and mol/uses settled at t he tray and they were also removed regulady to avoid additional weight to the cage. Water samples were also collected periodically to assess the qua-lity of Writer. This experimental slUdy was carried out for a period of eight months from March to November, 1983. RESUL T8 AND DISCUSSION During the period of study lobsters were found to have grown to an average weight of 165 g. The maximum growth of the lobster was 210 g. The survival rate was 57.5% and the growth rate was 18.2 g I month. There ~as no significant fluctuation in the physico -chemical and biological conditions during tbe period of study. The salinity was between 34.8 aDd 35 3% o. Surface water temperature ranged from 26 to 30 ~ C and the oxy-gen content was from 4 . 3 to 4.8 ml/1. The plankton was rich · with copepods like Oithona sp ., PonteUa sp., Corycaeus sp., Oikopleura sp. aod other mero-plankters like polycheate larvae, cope-pod nauplii. cirripede nauplii, lucifer ·protozoea. crab zoe a aod shrimp mysis and fish eggs and larvae. The phyto-plankton was mainly represented by Rhizosolenia spp., Chaetoceros spp, Coscinodiscus sp. and Biddulphia spp. The lobsters were found to occupy the upper and middle row of tubes. Usually one or two individuals wae found in each tube at a time. The barnacles and molluscs settled on the tray pose problems for the lobsters to move around and occupy the tubes, in addition to increasing the weight of the cage. Though the · holes were . provided at 30 em intervals of the entire botto.m of the tray, the shells r(main~d at the sides and among the P. V. C. tubes. So. the number and size of the holes may .. I to assess the qua-experimental stUdy : a period of eight t~ November, 1983. " • DISCUS~lO~ 0 ' . " . . d of study lobsfer~ " ve grown . to a':l 5 g. The muimum er was 210 g. The 5% and the growth ltb. ~nificant fluctuation lical and biological Ie period of study. between 3408 and water temperature o ~ C and the oxy-n 4.3 to 4.8 mlfJ· ich with copepods tella spo, Corycaeus . aod other mero-leate larvae, cope-ie nauplii, lucifer a andsbrimp mysis lfvae. The phyto-ly represented by Chaetoceros sPP. I Biddulphia spp. :re found to occupy dIe row of tubes. o indiyiduals wae e at a time, The uscs settled on tbe for the lobsters to :cuPy the tubes, in g tbe weight of the .oles were provided f the entire bottom Is remain~d at the P. V. C . lubes. So, !e of the boles may - 105 -be in.creased to overcome this problem. In the place of tra.y, cross bars may be fi~ed in the supporting bottom frame in which P. V. C. tubes can be attached. Alternatively a cluster of P. V. C. tubes can also be suspended from the raft inside the cage, covering more area in different directions to provide more space for biding. This would facilitate increased stocking density. The other problem in the culture of lobster in cages is the fouling organisms as pointed out by Chua and Teng (1980). Fouling rate is much faster in the eifvironment as pointed out by Coche '(1976), The tray, its holding ropes and the P. V. C. housing Were infested by simple ascidians, sponges, edible oysters and barnacles and so periodi~ cleaning is a must. The stocking density can be further increased by giving add itional protective places in different levels of tbe cage and· feediEg the animals intensively, By doing so, the production can be increa-sed by utilizing tbe entire column of water. The hiding places may be provi-ded in the form- of pig~on boles of pockets made of light weight synthetic materials as Neoprene Pockets described by Hanson (1974) for the purpose of concentrating and harvesting of marine crops Polyculture technique can also be adopted in cages introducing other compatible fishes, feeding on phyto-plankton along with lobsters. The fouling organisms of the cages may also attract their natural predators which may inturn affect cage culture. This can be overcome by providing an outer protective net. The recent findjD8~ of grow,ina lobsteri to gHlbt size, by eye stalk abla .. tion (Anon., 1982) can be adopted in cage culture of lobster to boost production, REFBRENCBS Anon., 1982. Blinding helps lobsters to grow to giant size. World Fishing, 11 : 1. Chittleborough, R. G ., 1974. Review of pl'"spects of rearing rock lobsttrs. CSIllO, Div. Fish. Oceanogr. Repr. No. 812, p. 1-5. Chua, T. " and S. K. Teng, 19W. Eoonomlc preductiol1 'Of estuary Grouper, Epinephelus salmoides reared in floating net cages. Aqua-culture, 20 : 187-228. Coche, A. G, 1976 A general review of cage culture and its application in t\frica F. A. O. Technieal confer-ence on Aquaculture, Kyoto, Japan, 26 May - 2 June, 1976. Tech. Pap. No. FIR: AQ / Conf / 76/ B.1}', 33 pp. Hanson, J. A., ] 974. Open Sea Mari-culture. Dowen, Hutchinson Ross, Inc, Stroudsbarg, 410 pp. Kathirvd, M •. 1973. The growth and regeneration of an aquarium held spiny lobster, Panulirus polyphagus ' (Herbst) . Indian J. Fish., 20 : 219- . 221. . . r • -. U)6 -KUlhalingam, M. D. K., K. G. Luther and S. Lazarus, 1980; Rearing of early juveniles of spiny lobster Panulirus versicolar (Latreille) with with notes on lobster fishery in Vizhinjam area. Indian J. Fish., 27: 17-23. Ling, S. W., 1972. A review of the status and problems of coastal aquaculture in the Indo-pacific region. In : Coastal aq uaculturo in the Indo· pacific region. (Ed. T. V. R. Pillay) Fishing News (Books) Ltd., England, p. 2-25· Mohamed, K. H. and M. 1. George, 1908. Results the on the tagging experiments of the Indian spiny lobster Panu/ifus homarus (Linn)-, movem~nt and growth. Indian J Fish., 15: 15-26. Nair, R. V., R. Soundarajan and Nanda-kumar, 1981. Observations on growth and moulting of spiny lobs-ters Panulirus homar'us (Linn), Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius) and Panulirus Pinicilatus (Olivier) in captivity. Indian J Fish, 21: 25-35. Provenzano, A. 1., 1969. Recent experi-ments on the laboratory rearing of tropical lobster larvae. Proc. Gulf Caribb. Fish. Inst. 21st Annu. Sess. (Nov 1968) 152-157 Thomas, M. M., 1972. Growth of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus in captivity. Indian J; Fish .• 19 : 125-129. • • I 

Studies on the growth of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus in marine cages

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Studies on the growth of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus in marine cages

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