Lobsters: Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture

This book is an important addition to the knowledge of lobster research.  The book complements other books published on lobster research and management as it focuses on Indian lobster fisheries and aquaculture developments where there have been nearly 350 research papers and reports and 19 PhD awards. The book has 15 chapters written by international experts covering many aspects of the biology of a number of spiny and slipper lobster species occurring in India and world oceans with maps illustrating global distribution of spiny lobster families, genera and species. An updated taxonomy and checklist of marine lobsters, the status and management of lobster fisheries in India and Indian Ocean Rim countries and a review of aquaculture research in India and other major countries have also been presented.  

The book is timely as the 2^nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) is currently underway (2015-2020), 50 years after the original IIOE (1959-1965), with some of the original lobster research on the biology and distribution of phyllosoma larvae being undertaken on the plankton samples collected during the first IIOE.

Many of the chapters are contributed by the authors from Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), which has been collecting fishery and biological data on lobsters since 1950 when lobster fishing began on a subsistence scale, followed by some industrial fishing for lobsters in different parts of India.  Unfortunately, the development of some of these lobster fisheries was followed by overfishing due to lack of enforcement of regulations. The book provides a valuable addition to our knowledge of the biology, fisheries and aquaculture of spiny and slipper lobsters.

E. V. Radhakrishnan joined Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin under Indian Council of Agricultural Research as   Scientist in 1976, after completing his post-graduation in Marine Biology from the University of Kerala. Throughout his scientific career spanning for more than 35 years, he has been studying lobster biology, physiology, ecology and fisheries and exploring the possibilities of aquaculture of lobsters. He has been instrumental in developing aquaculture laboratories at regional and research centers of CMFRI.   He held the position of Head, Crustacean Division of CMFRI for 10 years and as Emeritus Scientist of ICAR for two years. He was the Principal Investigator of two World Bank funded projects, ‘Mud crab breeding and seed production’ and ‘A’ value chain on oceanic tuna fisheries in Lakshadweep sea’. Dr. Radhakrishnan organized a series of stakeholder awareness workshops on lobster conservation in the maritime states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat under a participatory management project. The Ministry of Commerce issued a Notification on Minimum Legal Size for export of lobsters based on his studies and recommendation by CMFRI. Dr. Radhakrishnan has been the co-editor of the Handbook on Indian Prawns: Fisheries and Biology and editor of research manuals and handbooks including contribution of chapters to several national and international books on lobsters. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.  

Dr. Bruce F. Phillips was a scientist studying spiny lobsters with CSIRO for 28 years, before spending three years as the Chief Scientist for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in Canberra. Since 1996 he has been a Research Fellow and later an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University, in Western Australia. He is currently in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences and associated with several research projects developing spiny lobster aquaculture and enhancement. Dr. Phillips has been the editor of 12 books on rock (spiny) lobster biology, management and aquaculture, including the contribution of many of the Chapters in these volumes.  He has also edited two books on eco-labelling in fisheries.  In 2017 he published a 2 volume book on “Climate change Impacts on Fisheries and Aquaculture: A global analysis”.

Dr. Gopalakrishnan Achamveetil is a conservation geneticist with 29 years of research experience in the field of genetic characterisation and gene banking of marine fauna. He has started his career as Scientist at National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow during 1989 and later served as Head, NBFGR Kochi Unit.  Since 2013, he has been holding the position as   Director, CMFRI, Kochi. Dr. Gopalakrishnan has also has served as Vice Chairman of Indian branch of Asian Fisheries Society, the Chairman Genetics & Biodiversity – of the E – Consultation of Task Force Members (TF) for Development of Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA) and   member of Indo-Norwegian Working Group for fisheries and animal sciences. His area of specialization includes genetic stock identification of fishes using DNA markers; DNA barcoding of the fishes using mtDNA markers; development of protocol for cryopreservation of milt of indigenous fishes for conservation; captive breeding of indigenous fishes, fish reproduction and fish genetic stock identification. He developed milt cryopreservation and captive breeding protocols of six threatened fish species and was instrumental in the development of six fish cell lines that will be of use in viral studies. He has won several accolades during his service including the Fellow of National Academy of Agriculture Sciences, DBT-CREST Award and Asian Fisheries Society Gold Medal Award .He has authored more than 150 peer reviewed articles and technical reports, and 9 books.