Commercial catch management of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus in the coastal waters of Sistan and Baluchestan province

Abstract

Management of commercial catch of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus Linnaeus, 1758; was studied in fishing season, from September to November 2001. P. homarus specimens were captured from different fishing sites of Ramin, Chabahar, Konarak, Puzm and west of Puzm. Carapace length and sex of specimens and presence of eggs and pleopods of females were considered. The latter factor was noticed to check of the eggs removed from pleopods. Fishing season takes about one and the half months. The maximum and minimum carapace length were observed in west of Puzm (80.04 + 9.02 mm) and puzm (76.46 6.66 mm), respectively. Minimum size limit specimens at different fishing sites were not significantly different, but frequency of them were more than years of 1999 and 2000, although fewer ovigerous females were caught. A better management of the lobster resources needs the collaboration on fishing, fisheries and research within the Iranian authorities, and also fisheries cooperation of the two neighboring countries.