ABSTRACT: The Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, a long-lived decapod crustacean, is fished throughout its geographical range and generates close to 1 billion US dollars annually. Fisheries across this range are fully- or over-exploited, spurring management strategies such as closed seasons and minimum size limitations. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum legal size and appropriate closed season for the lobster population of Saint Kitts and Nevis by assessing and comparing the functional, physiological and morphological determinants of sexual maturity. Such a comparison has never been attempted for this species. Females did not reach functional maturity until 87.8 mm carapace length (CL) based on the presence of a spermatophore and eggs, but reached morphological maturity based on the presence of ovigerous setae at 72.5 mm CL. Physiological maturity was intermediate at 82.8 mm CL. Determinants of functional maturity overestimate the size at sexual maturity, while the presence of ovigerous setae underestimates it. The gonadosomatic index, a reliable method of assessing physiological maturity in female P. argus, can be used to monitor changes in reproductive activity in both males and females. Gross assessment of the ovary may be used to determine size at physiological maturity, and functional maturity can be used to calculate peak periods of reproduction. The peak physiological and functional maturity for P. argus occurs from March to May. As a result, we propose a closed season from March to June and suggest assessment of reproductive dynamics in order to determine minimum legal size for harvesting P. argus.

中文翻译：

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加勒比多刺龙虾 Panulirus argus 的性成熟大小和季节性繁殖活动

摘要：加勒比刺龙虾Panulirus argus是一种长寿的十足目甲壳类动物，在其整个地理范围内都被捕捞，年产值接近 10 亿美元。这个范围内的渔业被完全或过度开发，刺激了管理策略，例如关闭季节和最小尺寸限制。本研究的目的是通过评估和比较性成熟的功能、生理和形态决定因素，确定圣基茨和尼维斯龙虾种群的最小合法规模和适当的禁捕季节。从未尝试过对这个物种进行这样的比较。基于精囊和卵的存在，雌性直到 87.8 毫米的甲壳长度 (CL) 才达到功能成熟，但基于 72.5 毫米 CL 的产卵刚毛的存在达到了形态成熟。生理成熟度在 82 左右。8 毫米 CL。功能成熟度的决定因素高估了性成熟时的大小，而卵生刚毛的存在低估了它。性腺指数，一种评估女性生理成熟度的可靠方法P. argus可用于监测雄性和雌性生殖活动的变化。卵巢的总体评估可用于确定生理成熟时的大小，功能成熟可用于计算生殖高峰期。P. argus 的生理和功能成熟高峰发生在 3 月至 5 月。因此，我们建议在 3 月至 6 月关闭一个季节，并建议对繁殖动态进行评估，以确定收获P. argus 的最小合法规模。