Perspectives and future directions for research

Abstract

Lobster fishery, considered as a highly valued and most profitable marine resource, encounters problem of overexploitation and collapse in regions where fishery is not well managed. This chapter begins with the fishery database and stock assessment of lobster resources along the Indian coast and suggestions in this aspect. The current management measures and regulations in lobster fishery along with the limitations for implementation and scope for improvement in various sectors are discussed. Integration of genetic stock structure data into lobster fisheries governance, utility of molecular tools for evaluating response of lobsters to climate change, need for the development of traceability markers and microarray chips in lobsters, scope for nutrigenomics in larviculture, need for understanding molecular mechanisms of metamorphosis of larvae, quantitative genetic aspects and requirement of DNA-based assays for pathogen diagnosis are explained afterwards. The chapter stresses the importance of cross-border collaborations in research for the globally distributed lobsters. The necessity of database on carrying capacity, water currents as well as climatic and hydrographic conditions in the culture area and optimisation of cost-effective, high conversion practical feeds are highlighted. The areas which need focused research for successful hatchery production of lobster seeds, entry of private entrepreneurs in lobster breeding and seed production and need for ecolabelling of lobster fisheries for judicious harvest are highlighted at the end.