An assessment of the aquaculture potential of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus

There is strong demand for spiny lobsters (family Palinuridae) in international seafood markets and this is generating interest in the development of aquaculture for these species. However, a previous assessment of the economic feasibility of commercial land-based culture of a spiny lobster species in the temperate waters of New Zealand indicated that the prospects were poor unless input costs could be reduced and productivity increased dramatically. This earlier assessment recommended that the potential for culturing tropical species of spiny lobsters deserved closer examination, as these species generally have much more rapid growth. Consequently, this present study reviewed information on tropical species, Panulirus argus, from Florida and the Caribbean.