Spiny Lobster Catches and the Ocean Environment

Review of relationships between life history stages of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, in Western Australia

“…Phillips et al (2000) examined some of the possible environmental factors affecting spiny lobster catches in fisheries in six countries and concluded that there was a clear indication of the importance of ocean environment in the recruitment to spiny lobster fisheries. Modelling of the western rock lobster's 9-11-month larval phase suggests that ocean currents completely mix the larvae from all spawning regions, while tagging of juveniles and adults confirms that the stock forms a metapopulation consisting of subpopulations of juveniles and adults that generally undergo migrations of less than 50 km.…”

Estimating the effects of removing Panulirus cygnus pueruli on the fishery stock

“…Both models simulated the outcome of harvesting pueruli under various settlement levels (densities) within the range that has been experienced over the 30 years that settlement collectors have been in place at Seven Mile Beach (Phillips et al, 2000).…”

Post-larval settlement of California spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus in Bahía Tortugas, Baja California and its relationship to the commercial catch

“…Briones (1991) found a correlation between puerulus settlement in the Caribbean spiny lobster P. argus and the commercial catch of this species 2 years later. Phillips et al (1994b) showed a weak correlation between mean sea level in Ensenada and the California spiny lobster catch recorded 4 years later. They also found that surface water temperature correlates with catches of lobster 2 years later.…”

“…Above all, long data series are necessary for the statistical analysis to be reliable. Such time series are not commonly available for most species (Phillips et al, 1994b).…”