Work

Reproductive Biology of the Smoothtail Spiny Lobster ( Panulirus laevicauda ) to Support Fisheries Management in Southeastern Brazil

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The smoothtail spiny lobster ( Panulirus laevicauda ) is one of the main target species for fisheries in Brazil. We aimed to estimate reproductive parameters of this species in support of a minimum legal size limit for the region. A sample of 508 individuals ranged 13.75–100 mm in cephalothorax length (CL) from the southern coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil, during 2020–2021. Males were more abundant than females. Females reached morphological maturity before males, at 68.4 mm CL, for both sexes. Reproduction was between November and March, and some large females were capable of spawning more than once during the reproductive period. Because large adult females could spawn more than once per season, we recommend increasing the legal minimum capture size of P. laevicauda to 70 mm CL in Brazil.

Source: Fisheries Management and Ecology

DOI: 10.1111/fme.12817

Authors: Andressa C. M. de Melo, Luciano Pinto de Almeida, Glaucia Angelica Praxedes de Souza, Joelson Musiello‐Fernandes, Mauricio Hostim‐Silva, Jones Santander‐Neto

Institutions: Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Instituto Capixaba de Pesquisa, Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural

Language: English

Topic: Crustacean biology and ecology

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,430