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LOBSTER SEASON 2004 BEGINS SATURDAY October 2, 2004 AT 12:01 AM
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LOBSTER
Common
Name: California Spiny Lobster
Genus
and Species: Panuliris interruptus
Phylum: Anthropoda
Class:
Crustacea
Identification:
The cylindrical body varies in color to blend in amongst the vegetation.
The top portion of the carapace typically has many small black lumps and short
rose-like thorns on the dorsal side of the carapace. Above the eyes are the two large horns which
protect the eyes of the lobster. Beneath the eyes are several small dark
black spots on a white background, which from a far resemble eyes. In
front of these false eyes are the large antennae which are armed with many
small needle spikes along the detachable portion of the antennae. Along
the non-removable portion of the antennae are several rose thorn shaped
spikes, and beneath these are additional sensory antennas. The dark red
tail of the lobster is armed on the undersides by spikes at each joint in the
tail exoskeleton. On the underside of the tail are two swimmerets which
aide in propulsion.
Females are easily identified by looking at their back leg. In the females of this specie the last leg closest to the tail does not look like the other 8 legs. Instead of the claw-like appearance the back leg more closely resembles a rounded nub, a shape possibly better suited to tending the eggs held on the underside of the tail in the late spring and early summer months. Females also have many large white appendages concealed beneath their large swimmerets. In contrast the rose petal shaped swimmerets of the male lobster are much smaller than the females swimmerets.
Habitat
on our beaches: Lobster habitat varies throughout the year.
The California Spiny Lobster's ecology is not very well studied at this time.
It has been my experience that during the initial months of lobster season
lobsters are more common to shallower depths where lobster seem to gather in
the early and late summer months to tend and hatch their brood. In
December the lobster seem to disappear off of the coast and head for
presumably deeper depths. Sometime in late January to early February the
lobsters reamerge to depths between 45 and 15 feet of water.
Legal
Size: To measure a lobster you must place
your lobster gauge between the two horns and measure the first portion of the
carapace. The gauge needs to fit snug, meaning the gauge should have no
room to wiggle on a legal size lobster.
Conservation:
The California Spiny Lobster is a highly prized cuisine, and an especially
large attraction for certified divers. As such it is important for all
divers to know a little bit about their prey before they go hunting. In
this day and age their are many divers who boast of their ability to catch
hundreds of lobsters in a single season. It is this exact attitude which
contributed to the depletion of otherwise dense populations of organisms.
As such lobster hunters are encouraged to catch and release females of the
species. By targeting the females, which tend to be larger than males of
the same age hunters reduce the amount of eggs being produced to replenish the
population after the hunting season has ended. When hunting lobster make
sure to take only what you can eat. The hunter who goes out and takes 20
lobster in one night is not only breaking the law but is also displaying a
behavior which should be discouraged and condemned by all. The prowess
of a hunter should not be measured in the number of lobster the hunter
catches, but by the respect and reverence the hunter has for his or her own
prey. When hunting please be responsible and take only what you can eat.
A
Note: This page is very popular amongst hunters
throughout the year. Although little is currently known about the
lobster's ecology, several studies are currently taking place to learn more
about lobster distribution and behavior. We will be updating this page
constantly in the next two months before lobster season begins in September.
If you have information you would like to contribute please contact Matt at
matt@calcoastdivers.com and
let me know what you think.
Additional
Information: Thanks go to Matthew Stadler and the
graduate students of the UCSB Bren who allowed me to publish this link to
their work on my web site. Matthew's thesis may be found at:
Relevant lobster sections are Section 5 (cooperative lobster fishery monitoring plan) Appendix D (Lobster background- biology) Appendix E (trapping methodology) Appendix H Potential spiny lobster management options.
Copyrighted by Ryan Jaeger & Matthew J. Wahlrab 2002 - 20042
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