An evaluation of artificial shelters in the artisanal spiny lobster fishery in Gazi Bay, Kenya

Abstract

Two designs of artificial shelters were evaluated for use in the artisanal spiny-lobster fishery in Gazi Bay, Kenya. Both types of shelter were effective in aggregating the spiny lobster Panulirus ornatus in nearshore sea-grass beds. Lobsters aggregated at the shelters were caught by free-diving fishermen, using spearguns and hand nets. Mean lobster catches taken from the shelters ranged from 0, 38 to 0, 83 kg·trip−1, around 50% of those taken farther offshore in natural reefs. No significant difference was found in the size or sex composition between shelter and reef-caught lobsters. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.