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California Spiny Lobster

Basic Biology:

Panulirus interruptus-the California spiny lobster is one of 35 species making up the tropical family Palinuridae. Spiny lobster has ahard-shell carapace, long antennae and 10 lges. Color varies from light red to dark black-red. The body is covered with numerous forward-facing spines. These spines are especially prominent avove the eyes and along the tail. Spiny lobster is easily distinguished from east coast (Maine) Lobster by the absence of claws.

Spiny lobster have been reported to attain 3 feet in length and 26 to 30 punds in weight. An individual of such size could be 75 years-of-age or older. Females are distinguished from male by a small pincher on the last leg and by large, fleshy swimmeretts on the underside of the tail. 

Spiny lobster move inshore from deeper waters to reproduce generally during March through August. Males deposit a "putty-like" packet of sperm on the abdomen of the female (plastered) to fertilize the 100,000 to 1,000,000 she will carry (berried). After about 10 weeks the eggs hatch into tiny transparent larvae. they have flattened bodies and spider-like lges and drift on the ocean currents for 6 to 9 months while undergoing 12 developmental molts. Fully develope larvae settle to the bottom along shallow rocky coastlines. At this stage they look like a very small adult but are still transparent. Secual maturity is reached in 5 to 7 year. 

Like other crustaceans lobster have an external "skeleton" and grow in rapid bursts only after shedding their entire hard shell (molt). During the molting process, lobster are vulnerable to predation and injury. Juvenile lobster molt once a year after reaching a carapace length of about 2 inches and 3 years-of-age. Once attaining 2 inch carapace length, annual growth of approximately 1 to 6 millimeters follows. It is not certain whether females grow faster than males. There is no direct way to determine a lobster's age, it can only be estimated from the individual size and growth rate. 

Typically lobsters inhabit nearshore rocky reefs and eel grass beds. An occasional small individual may be seen in tide pools during very low tides. This species range from southern  San Luis Obispo county to lower Baja California, Mexico. Spiny lobster are most active at night. They eat a wide Variety of plants and animals, dead or alive. some predators include octopus, black (giant) see bass, California sheephead, hom and leopark shark, and sport fishermen.

Management:

The number of spiny lobster is not known. Fishing regulation are designed to insure the continued existence of the population. The spiny lobster resource is protected by size and bag limits, a limited fishing season, specific capture gear requirements, and a structured limited entry commercial fishery.