Effects of exposure and confinement on spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, used as attractants in the Florida trap fishery
Hunt, J.H.; Lyons, W.G.; Kennedy Jr., F.S. (1986). Effects of exposure and confinement on spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, used as attractants in the Florida trap fishery. Fish. Bull. 84(1): 69-76
In: Fishery Bulletin. US Government Printing Office: Washington, D.C.. ISSN 0090-0656; e-ISSN 1937-4518, more
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| Keywords |
Bait
Biological stress
Catching methods
Fisheries > Shellfish fisheries > Crustacean fisheries > Lobster fisheries
Fishery sciences > Economics > Fishery economics
Fishing > Catching methods > Trap fishing
Mortality causes
Population functions > Mortality
Properties > Biological properties > Tolerance > Exposure tolerance
Trapping
Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hunt, J.H.
- Lyons, W.G.
- Kennedy Jr., F.S.
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| Abstract |
Traps in the south Florida spiny lobster fishery are baited with live sublegal-sized lobsters (shorts), many of which are exposed for considerable periods aboard vessels before being placed in traps and returned to the sea. Average mortality rate of lobsters exposed 1/2, 1, 2, and 4 hours in controlled field tests was 26.3% after 4 weeks of confinement. About 42% of observed mortality occurred within 1 week after exposure, indicating exposure to be a primary cause of death. Neither air temperature during exposure nor periodic dampening with seawater had significant effects on mortality rate. Mortality among confined lobsters increased markedly in the Atlantic oceanside but not in Florida Bay during the fourth week of confinement following exposure, probably because more natural food organisms entering traps from nearby seagrass beds delayed starvation at the latter site. Mortality caused by baiting traps with shorts may produce economic losses in dockside landings estimated to range from $1.5 to $9.0 million annually. |
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