The potential of the spiny lobster fishery in Aceh waters: A short review

Abstract

The western-southern and northern coastal waters of Aceh are the potential fishing areas of spiny lobster, which faces the Indian Ocean and the Andaman Sea. Fishing gears that are widely used are lobster gill nets and hand-picking with compressors. In Indonesia, seven species of spiny lobsters are caught in these waters, including Panulirus homarus, P. penicillatus, P. versicolor, P. ornatus, P. polyphagus, P. longipes longipes, and P. longipes femoristiga. The habitat for spiny lobsters is spread from coral reefs, rock, sand, and muddy sand. Panulirus homarus is the most frequently caught species in these waters, followed by P. penicillatus and P. longipes. Panulirus homarus is mainly caught during the dry season (southwest wind) and high waves (May to July), where other lobster species experience a significant decrease in the catch. The stock of spiny lobster in Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 572 (including Aceh coastal waters) has been in an overfishing condition since 2008. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of spiny lobster in Aceh coastal waters part of Malacca Strait (FMA 571) is 188.60 tons.yr−1 with a total allowable catch (TAC) of 151.10 tons. yr−1. Furthermore, the MSY for Aceh coastal waters part of Indian Ocean is 292.09 tons.yr−1 with a TAC of 233.92 tons.yr−1. Spiny lobster fishing in Aceh coastal waters must ensure its use in the future, both ecologically, socially, and economically.