Phyllosoma larvae of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus were hatched and reared in the laboratory on a diet of Artemia salina nauplii. The larvae were rcared in individual as well as in mass culture systems. The temperature of the rearing water ranged from 26 to 29°C and salinity from 34 to 35‰. The larvae reared individually moulted nine times and reached the sixth stage in sixty days. Mean total length of the newly hatched larva was 1.48 mm and stage VI larva measured an average of 4.87 mm. The early stages ofphyllosoma larva of P. homarus are morphologically similar to those of other tropical species. Larvae infested with sedentary ectoparasites were effectively treated with 10 ppm malachite green. Change in feeding habits resulted in mortality of the larvae in the sixth stage. RÉSUMÉDes larves phyllosomes de la langouste Panulirus homarus ont éclos, puis ont été élevées au laboratoire grâce à un régime de nauplies d'Artemia salina. Les larves ont été élevées aussi bien individuellement qu'en masse. La température de l'eau d'élevage était de 26 à 29°C et la salinité de 34 à 35‰. Les larves élevées individuellement ont mué 9 fois et ont atteint le sixième stade en soixante jours. La longueur totale moyenne des larves nouvellement écloses était de 1,48 mm et la larve au stade VI mesurait en moyenne 4,87 mm. Les premiers stades de la larve phyllosome de P. homarus sont morphologiquement semblables à ceux des autres espèces tropicales. Les infestées d'ectoparasites sédentaires ont été effectivement traitées avec 10 ppm de vert malachite. La modification du régime alimentaire a abouti à la mortalité des larves au sixième stade.

The tissue damage induced by various organic pollutants in aquatic animals is well documented, but there is a dearth of information relating to the histological alterations induced by copper in the spiny lobster. In the present study, intermoult juveniles of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (average weight 150-200 g) were exposed to two sublethal concentrations of the copper (9.55 and 19.1 μg/l) for a period of 28 days. The muscle, hepatopancreas, midgut, gills, thoracic ganglion and heart of the lobsters were then dissected out and processed for light microscopic studies. Exposure to copper was found to result in several alterations in the histoarchitecture of the muscle, hepatopancreas, midgut, gills, thoracic ganglion and heart of P. homarus. The alterations included disruption and congestion of muscle bundle in muscle tissue; blackened haemocytes; distended lumen and F cell; necrosis of the tubules of the hepatopancreas; disarrangement of circular muscle of the midgut; accumulation of haemocytes in the haemocoelic space; swelling and fusion of lamellae; abnormal gill tips; hyperplastic, necrotic, and blackened secondary gill lamellae of the gills; damaged neurosecretory cell and sensory and motor fibre; necrotic of the thoracic ganglion; dispersedly arranged muscle bands; clumped satellite cells and nucleus of the heart. The results obtained suggest that the muscle, hepatopancreas, midgut, gills, thoracic ganglion and heart of lobsters exposed to copper were structurally altered. Such alterations could affect vital physiological functions, such as absorption, storage and secretion of the hepatopancreas, digestion of gut and respiration, osmotic and ionic regulations of the gills, which in turn could ultimately affect the survival and growth of P. homarus. Thus, all possible remedial measures should be adopted to prevent the occurrence of copper contamination in the aquatic environment.

Captive broodstock of the spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus, mated successfully and produced more than 105 spawnings over 4 years. Improvements in nutrition and rearing conditions increased the number of spawnings from less than 2, to 4 per year. A single breeder mates three or more times in a year and may spawn more than once following a single mating. An average of four repetitive spawnings per year was recorded. One third of the females spawned 5 times and a single female spawned 7 times in one year. The phyllosoma were released in one or two batches on successive days. The number of phyllosoma larvae released varied from 16 000 to 529 180 with breeder weights ranging from 218 to 696 g.

Outbreak of Vibrio infection was reported from a shrimp farm near Chennai, south India. Both green and yellow Vibrio were isolated from disease outbreak of Penaeus monodon (Milne Edwards) culture farm and biochemically confirmed as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae. Randomly selected V. parahaemolyticus (VP1) and V. cholerae (VC1) were reconfirmed by partial 16S rRNA gene analysis. Both were tested against post larvae and juveniles of P. monodon by bath challenge test and intramuscular injection respectively. The study revealed that VP1 is more virulent than VC1 isolated from same source against P. monodon post larvae and juveniles. Phylogenetic tree based on comparison of partial 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed close relationship of VP1 with other shrimp pathogens like Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus. There might be some close relationship for disease development among all these strains.

Eight species of spiny lobster (six littoral and two deep-sea) and two species of slipper lobster constitute the lobster fishery of India. Lobster landings fluctuate around 2000–3000 t annually. High export demand for Indian spiny lobsters has resulted in regular and organized exploitation, both inshore and offshore. Almost the entire quantity of lobsters landed in India is exported in frozen, cooked or live form. Export of live lobsters, which realize the maximum unit price, has increased from 22 t in 1994 to 97 t in 1996. Live transport of spiny lobsters has advanced from just keeping them alive for a few hours in moist intertidal beach sand to the most sophisticated packing in insulated boxes. The process involves holding the lobsters at the landing centre and at the city of export. The entire exercise lasts about seven days, during which period the lobsters are packed twice, each time keeping them out of water for not less than 20 h. In the holding centres, the lobsters are often kept at high densities, with the resulting build-up of nitrogenous wastes and depletion of dissolved oxygen leading to mortalities. Average mortality is up to 6.5% during live transport.