Inception Report on Development of A Refugium Management Plan for the Mud Spiny Lobster (Panulirus polyphagus).

Abstract

The mud spiny lobster (Panulirus polyphagus) is one of the favourites seafood exported from Malaysia. There are limited studies on the mud spiny lobster by the local scientific community as compared to the rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and common spiny lobster (Panulirus vulgaris). Although there are relatively less studies on the mud spiny lobster in this region, the Panulirus polyphagus is the predominant lobster reported in the east coast of the Peninsular Malaysia, from Kelantan in the North, down to Johor in the South (Alias et al., 2000). Noor Hanis and Siow (2019) reported the landing trend of this species begin showing a declining trend since early 2010s’, probably associated with the harvesting pressure. The declining landing trend suggested the needs to protect this spiny lobster to be protected to sustain the species in the area.