'Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi'
Abstract
Capture fisheries have reached a peak in production, and
stock enhancement or aquaculture appears to be the only
hope of meeting the ever increasing demand for high value
seafood like lobsters. For aquaculture, the pressing need is to
solve the dilemma of promoting expansion while at the same
time demanding the development of environmentally sound
technologies and farming practices (Mace, 1997). Lobsters have
excellent market demand and price and especially live lobsters
are the most preferred. Customers in affluent countries are ready
to pay more for fresh seafood. Lobsters are exported in different
forms; live, frozen tails, whole frozen, whole-chilled, wholecooked
and frozen and as lobster meat. The live lobster trade
increased from 1.3 % during 1993-94 to 12.7% during 2003-
04 period