Lobster culture in Khanh Hoa province (English for aquaculture)

NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF AQUACULTURE
Lobster culture in Khanh Hoa province

Introduction
Seacage culture of lobsters started in the province of Khanh Hoa in 1992 and has expanded significantly around south-central Vietnam since 2000.
Ornate or spiny rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus) is the most important cultured species among others (P. hormarus, P. timpsoni, and P. longipes).
Number of cage increased over years.
But today’s lobster farming in Khanh Hoa province is experiencing some diffculties that the disease situation and increasing scarce breed.




Panulirus polypagus
Panulirus ornatus
Panulirus hornarus
Panulirus longipes
Characteristics of Different Lobster Species in Vietnam
Lobster Culture Technology
Seed:

At present, lobster seed is sourced from the wild.

Lobster juveniles are caught mainly by purse seines, traps and divers.

The preferable size of the juveniles taken from the wild for aquaculture is between 4–6 cm.



Cages
There are three main cage types depending on the culture area and the financial capacity of the famers.
Floating cages
Wooden fixed cages
Submerged cages
Summary of commonly used cages in Khanh Hoa for lobster
Feed and feeding regimes
Lobsters are fed exclusively with fresh whole or chopped fish and shellfish.

Feeding small-sized lobsters was 3-4 times/day.

Feeding large-sized lobsters was 1-2 times/day.

Feed amount was increased in the evening.
Fresh fish anh crustaceans used as lobser feed
Care management
Daily check and monitor health status, activities and level of shrimp feed in order to make reasonable adjustments.

Clean up cages in every 10 – 15 days interval.
Disease
Milky disease
Red body
Black gill
Harvest
Normally, after 16 – 18 months culture in cages, lobster are harvested at size 0.6 – 1.5 kg.

Harvest time might depend on market price.