Population structure and fecundity of Scyllarides delfosi Holthuis, 1960 (Scyllaridae) on the Amazon continental shelf

Abstract

Abstract The slipper lobster Scyllarides delfosi is an important resource captured by fishery fleets of red lobster (Panulirus argus westonii) in northern Brazil. Despite the economic potential of this species, information on its biological and fishery aspects is still nonexistent. This study was conducted using four-year data on slipper lobster (2001 and 2003, 2013 and 2014) to analyse population structure and estimate fecundity and egg size of S. delfosi. A total of 547 slipper lobsters, S. delfosi, were collected. Ovigerous females and individuals of all size classes were captured by the fleet, mostly individuals newly recruited to the adult stock. These lobsters showed a 7-mm decrease in total mean length over a period of 10 years. Fecundity ranged from 24,710 to 190,060 eggs and egg diameter ranged from 0.60 to 0.64 mm. Research on life cycle, reproduction, and growth of S. delfosi is essential to provide support for the sustainable exploitation of this species, which is considered by-catch on the northern Brazilian coast, and as such, has no adequate public policies regarding its management.