Live transport and marketing of spiny lobsters in India

Abstract

Eight species of spiny lobster (six littoral and two deep-sea) and two species of slipper lobster constitute the lobster fishery of India. Lobster landings fluctuate around 2000–3000 t annually. High export demand for Indian spiny lobsters has resulted in regular and organized exploitation, both inshore and offshore. Almost the entire quantity of lobsters landed in India is exported in frozen, cooked or live form. Export of live lobsters, which realize the maximum unit price, has increased from 22 t in 1994 to 97 t in 1996.

Live transport of spiny lobsters has advanced from just keeping them alive for a few hours in moist intertidal beach sand to the most sophisticated packing in insulated boxes. The process involves holding the lobsters at the landing centre and at the city of export. The entire exercise lasts about seven days, during which period the lobsters are packed twice, each time keeping them out of water for not less than 20 h. In the holding centres, the lobsters are often kept at high densities, with the resulting build-up of nitrogenous wastes and depletion of dissolved oxygen leading to mortalities. Average mortality is up to 6.5% during live transport.