Catch Composition and Reproduction of the Spiny Lobster Panulirus versicolor at Palau

Abstract

Abstract Diver catches of the spiny lobster Panulirus versicolor contribute to a tropical small-scale fishery at Palau, Western Caroline Islands. When commercial catches were sampled during October 1969-October 1970, the population had sustained relatively little fishing pressure and much of that had been of a subsistence nature. Males and females combined ranged from 5.6 cm to 13.2 cm in carapace length. The sexes were equally abundant overall, although females were significantly more abundant in the smallest size class and males were significantly more abundant in the larger size classes. Females attained reproductive maturity at about 8.2 cm carapace length, which is markedly above the size at which this species entered the fishery. A high level of sustained reproduction throughout the year is suggested by the data.