New research to advance sustainable spiny lobster farming in the Philippines

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/ Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) is working on new technological solutions to develop sustainable farming techniques for the spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus) in the Philippines.

According to SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao, the farming of this species still depends on the collection of wild pueruli and juveniles, which are stocked in small nurseries and grow-out cages using traditional methods.

For this reason, a team at the Igang Marine Station in Guimaras, a natural source of wild seeds, is studying how to determine the optimal stocking density and feeding practices for both the nursery and grow-out phases in sea-based cage systems.

"Through these experiments, the project has already established key growth benchmarks for the spiny lobster, which are essential for achieving efficient production cycles," indicated Roselyn Baylon, a researcher at SEAFDEC/AQD.

Among the controls carried out are regular monitoring of salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, nutrients, bacterial load, and sediment quality beneath the cages, as well as continuous recording of temperature and light levels. In addition, lobster health is frequently assessed to prevent or control diseases, improve survival rates, and manage environmental impacts.

“Our goal is to standardize these informal practices into science-based production models, with recommendations on optimal stocking density, appropriate feeding regimes, and environmental management,” Baylon confirmed.

Finally, large-scale verification trials of the refined protocols are planned, with a focus on controlling cannibalism and developing effective feeds as key areas of research.

"Once standardized rearing protocols for the spiny lobster are developed and verified, we will facilitate technology transfer through training and the establishment of sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities," Baliao concluded.