The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Deep-sea lobster reared in captivity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Deep-sea lobster reared in captivity

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI, JUNE 11. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, has successfully reared a deep-sea lobster at its seafront laboratory at Neelankarai here recently.

Three baby lobsters (Palinustus waguensis) were collected from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in July last by the Fisheries and Oceanographic Research Vessel, Sagar Sampada, from a depth of 365 metres, said NIOT officials.

The authorities claimed that it was the first instance of rearing a deep-sea lobster in captivity.

Of the three specimens, one died after first moult (periodical shedding of outer skin) in September last. Everyday officials monitored the growth of the other two and they completed six moults in eight months. The second one died in February this year.

When the vessel caught the babies, they weighed one gram and in eight months their weight went up to eight grams.

S. Kathiroli, Director in-charge, NIOT, said mussel and clam were provided as feed and the babies were kept in ambient seawater in a temperature ranging between 25 and 30 degree Celsius. Identification of the species was established only after two moults. The young ones were transparent with reddish orange bands in the appendages. After the first moult, growth of antennules, antennae and walking legs were visible.

M. Vijayakumaran, Coordinator, Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, who monitored the growth of the third baby lobster, said unlike the littoral spiny lobsters, which were communal and would tend to aggregate when reared together, the deep-sea lobster always remained isolated in the three corners of the rectangular rearing tank at the laboratory. Its aggressive pose, when disturbed, was also distinct from the other lobsters, he said.

R.Venkatesan, Group Head, said adaptation to high pressure and low temperature were the unique feature of deep-sea animals. Normally, they could not survive or would become deformed when they were hauled to the surface due to exposure to change in pressure and high temperature. The surviving lobster weighs 13 grams and has moulted seven times since its arrival.

Future plan in rearing or sea ranching this rare species is being discussed with other world experts. The organisation will also take up the study on the behavioural aspects and noise measurements of this specimen, the officials said.

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