The Florida spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, is an important item in
Florida fisheries, rating high among fishery products. The fishery is
centered in south Florida and the Florida Keys but the commercial range
may extend into other areas as more exploratory research is done. The
majority of the catch is made using wooden traps and discarded ice cans,
but large numbers are taken at certain times of the year in bully nets,
shrimp trawls, and by hand. The catch is sold alive. The U. S. catches
cannot satisfy the demand for this tasty product and each year millions
of pounds are imported from South America, Africa, Australia, and other
countries.
Because of the fairly high market price placed on this animal and because
of the large number imported, several persons have become interested
in the artificial propagation of the spiny lobster and have requested information
on the commercial feasibility of lobster farming. It is for that
reason this paper is prepared. (4 page document
