Panulirus Species

Abstract

Variously known as 'rock' or 'spiny' lobsters (and even rocklobsters in Australia), depending on local traditions and trade requirements, they provide a valuable source of seafood and exports for a large number of countries.The worldwide distribution of Panulirus lobsters is described and in some areas there is a wide range of species. For example some 10 species are recorded from India but the fisheries are confined to P. polyphagus, P. versicolor, P. ornatus and P. homarus. Fisheries are based on almost all Panulirus species but not all have been successfully managed. For example fisheries for commercial Panulirus marginatus in the Hawaiian Islands, Panulirus pascuensis at the Easter Islands, and Panulirus japonicus in Taiwan have essentially disappeared, although the same species may be fished in other areas.This review concentrates on the larger fisheries, or those showing interesting developments in recent years, as part of their quest for sustainable management.