A B STR A C T T he spiny lobster Panulirus argus (L atreille, 1804) is the m ost im portant com m ercial fishing resource in the w estern c entral A tlantic and Brazil. F ield studies covering the w aters o ff southw estern C uba and northern B razil have im proved our understanding o f th e variations in the reproductive potential (num ber o f eggs), stock recruitm ent and reproductive efficiency o f spiny lobsters according to location, depth and size class. U sing the spaw ner-recruitm ent m odel, the reproductive potential index w as correlated w ith the index o f subsequent recruitm ent based on field sam pling. Spiny lobster habitats in deeper w aters need special attention in order to p rotect the species from overfishing o f the recruitm ent. C onsidering the longevity and absence o f reproductive senility in spiny lobsters, m anagem ent strategies should ideally include the creation o f spaw ner sanctuaries (m arine protected areas) capable o f restoring and m aintaining the biom ass o f the spaw ning stock and the establishm ent o f a m axim um catch size o f 135 m m (CL) fo r both sexes along the entire B razilian coast. B ased on our findings, w e propose to establish spiny lobster sanctuaries (50-100 m ) on the continental shelf o ff northern B razil, from A m apâ (5°25'N 5 1°0'W ) to the w estern reaches o f the co ast o f P ara (1°1 l 'N 46°27/W, 0°42rN 46°45,W ), covering a total surface area o f 64 230 km 2 . R E SU M O A lagosta e spinhosa Panulirus argus (L atreille, 1804) é o recurso p esqueiro de m aior im portância com ercial do A tlântico centro-oeste e Brasil. E studos de cam po, em âguas do sudoeste de C uba e norte do B rasil, têm m elhorado a com preensào das variaçôes do potencial reprodutivo (abundância de 4 1316 RAÜL CRUZ ET AL.ovos), estoque-recrutamento e eficiência reprodutiva de lagostas com relaçâo à localizaçào, profundidade e tamanho de classe. Com base em amostragens de campo e utilizando modelo recrutamentodesova, o indice de potencial reprodutivo foi correlacionado corn o indice de recrutamento subsé quente. Os habitats de lagosta em âguas profundas necessitam de atençào especial visando à proteçào da espécie da sobrepesca por recrutamento. Considerando a longevidade e a ausência de senilidade reprodutiva em lagostas, estratégias de gestâo devem incluir a criaçâo de santuârios (area marinha protegida) para desova, capazes de restaurar e manter a biomassa da populaçào reprodutora e o estabelecimento de um tamanho mâximo de captura de 135 mm (CL) para ambos os sexos, para toda a costa do Brasil. Os resultados permitem propor um santuârio (area marinha protegida) da lagosta (50-100 m) ao longo da plataforma continental norte do Brasil, do Amapâ (5°25'N 5°0'W) até a costa oeste de Para (1°1 l^N 46°27,W, 0°42,N 46°45,W), cobrindo uma area superficial total de 64 230 km2.

The red spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) and the green spiny lobster Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille, 1817) are the most abundant and commercially valuable lobster species on the Brazilian continental shelf. Though sold on the domestic market, the painted spiny lobster {Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869) and the slipper lobster (Scyllaridae) are of little economic importance and have been the object of very little research. Brazilian spiny lobster fisheries have been in decline for many years due to growth overfishing, including the capture of undersized specimens (>50%). Furthermore, fishing berried females and older lobsters from deeper waters (^50 m), compromising the reproductive potential of the species and increasing the risk of low recruitment and fishing collapse. The setting of quotas on catches is in itself insufficient to protect Brazilian lobster stocks. Management efforts should instead focus on the enforcement of control measures in order to increase lobster stocks. In this study we make several recommendations: (i) lobster traps should be furnished with escape gaps for undersized lobsters, (ii) the use of undersized lobsters (decoys) in traps should be avoided, (iii) gillnets ("caçoeira") and artificial shelters ("marambaia") should be eliminated, (iv) an optimal minimum legal size should be established (80 mm CL for all spiny lobster species and 85 mm CL for slipper lobsters), (v) a maximum legal size should be established (135 mm CL for P. argus and 100 mm CL for P laevicauda of both sexes), (vi) the capture of berried females should be prohibited, (vii) a closed season should be instituted to protect ovigerous females and ensure recruitment, (viii) establishment of marine reserves or a total closed season to protect the juveniles in nursery areas, (ix) a monitoring program collecting catch and effort data should be implemented to help assess lobster stocks adequately, and, (x) stratified random sampling must be implemented. RESUMOAs lagostas Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) e Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille, 1817) sao as especies mais abundantes e de maior valor comercial capturadas na plataforma continental do Brasil. Outras especies capturadas, tais como, a lagosta pintada {Panulirus echinatus SmithASSESSMENT OF WILD SPINY LOBSTERS 337 lagosta sapateira sao de pouca importancia económica e têm sido pouco pesquisadas. A sobrepesca do crescimento devido as capturas de grandes números de ilegais (>50%) é a principal causa de rendimento decrescente em lagostas. Além disso, a pesca de fêmeas ovadas e lagostas grandes em aguas profundas (^50 m) podedam deprimir o potencial reprodutivo da populaçào, da e.spécie, e pode aumentar do risco de baixo recrutamento e colapso. A fixaçâo de quotas de captura talvez nào seja em si insuficiente para proteger o stock pesqueiro do Brasil. Os esforços de gestâo devem concentrar-se na aplicaçào de medidas de controle, a fim de aumentar os estoques de lagostas. Neste estudo, se faz varias recomendaçôes: (i) as armadilhas para lagostas devem ser equip...

The most important populations of the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804)) in the Atlantic are found in the Caribbean and along the Brazilian coast. Field studies covering the waters off the Cuban archipelago and Brazil have improved our understanding of the importance of oceanic circulation to larval recruitment. South of Cuba, puerulus settlement is intensive in October and November when the coastal reefs (83°W) are impacted by a cyclone-anticyclone pair, suggesting this area is the main source of retention and supply of surviving larvae, thus of self-recruitment. On the continental shelf of Brazil, puerulus settlement takes place throughout the year, but two annual peaks have been identified: one in March-April and one in July-September, when retroflection eddies of the North Brazil Current are more intense and feed into the eastward-flowing North Equatorial Countercurrent. Conceivably, Brazilian spiny lobster larvae are trapped in this oceanic system, leading to self-recruitment. On the continental shelf of Brazil the larval period lasts 6-7 months, depending on the season and spawning date. In the Caribbean the period is reported to be 6-8 months. Information on the relative abundance of early-stage spiny lobster larvae makes it possible to predict patterns of recruitment of pueruli and juveniles and the timing of their life cycle. However, further research on seasonal variations in local currents, current retroflection and ring formation is needed to clarify important aspects of larval transport, puerulus settlement and recruitment. RESUMOAs principais populações de lagosta (Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804)) no Atlântico são encontradas no Caribe e ao longo da costa Brasileira. Os estudos de campo que cobrem as águas ao largo do arquipélago Cubano e do Brasil têm melhorado nossa compreensão da importância da circulação

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On the Brazilian continental shelf, red spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) constitute a separate population with two distinct stocks, one in shallow waters (<50 m) and one in deeper waters (50-100 m). Stocks are highly exploited, especially undersized animals «75 mm CL) and older individuals. The observed decline in spiny lobster landings over the past two decades is believed to be due to overfishing in shallow waters, since over half the harvested lobsters are below the minimum legal size (75 mm CL), with a length at first capture of 61 mm CL. Spawning lobsters in deeper waters measure 96 mm CL at first capture; this coincides with the size class (90-99 mm CL) with the greatest reproductive potential. Furthermore, the capture of berried females and older lobsters (>135 mm CL) from deeper waters increases the risk of low recruitment and fishing collapse. The observed change in fishing patterns appears to be the consequence of increased fishing mortality (F) among pre-recruits. This is possibly the main cause of the large fluctuations observed in landings, although other factors, such as the interplay between environmental conditions and recruitment abundance, may have to be considered. Our results show that increasing the minimum legal size of red lobsters is likely to improve total landings in the long term, provided appropriate and tightly enforced control measures are designed and implemented. RESUMONa plataforma continental brasileira, a lagosta vermeUia Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) constitui uma populaçào fechada, com dois estoques distintos, uma em aguas rasas (<50 m) e um outro em aguas mais profundas (50-100 m). Ambos os estoques sao altamente explorados, especialmente animais jovens com tamanho inferior ao mínimo legal (^75 mm CL) e individuos mais veüios. O decKnio observado nos desembarques de lagostas ao longo das últimas duas décadaŝ ) IMPACT OF LOBSTER SIZE ON COMMERCIAL CATCHES 1275 se acredita ser devido a sobrepesca do crescimento em aguas rasas, ja que mais da metade das lagostas colhidas estäo abaixo tamanho mínimo legal (75 mm CL), considerando um comprimento de primeira captura de 61 mm CL. Lagostas que desovam em aguas mais profundas tem um comprimento de primeira captura de 96 mm CL, classe de tamanho (90-99 CL mm) que coincide com a de maior potencial reprodutivo. Além disso, a captura de fêmeas ovígeras e lagostas mais velhas (> 135 CL mm) em aguas mais profundas aumenta o risco de baixo recrutamento e colapso de pesca. A mudança observada no padrâo de pesca parece ser a conseqiiência do incremento da mortalidade por pesca (E) entre os pré-recrutas. Esta é possivelmente a principal causa dos grandes flutuaçôes observadas nos desembarques, embora outros latores, como a interaçâo entre as condiçôes ambientáis e abundancia de recrutamento, devam ter que ser consideradas. Os resultados mostram que o aumento do tamanho mínimo legal de captura de lagosta vermelha seja susceptível para melhorar os desembarques no longo prazo, desde que medidas apropriadas de controle sejam fi...