2024 Volume 80 Issue 18 Article ID: 24-18127
The study aimed to examine the effect of the artificial seaweeds on the population of Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus in the small holes of artificial reefs. The artificial seaweed (1.0 m long, 20 cm wide) consisted of three ropes with polypropylene fibers is used to create habitats for pueruli of P. japonicus. The artificial reefs consist of three surfaces, one of which has 20 small holes with diameters of 15 to 37 mm. A total of nine diving surveys were conducted along the coast of Uchinoura Bay, Kagoshima to measure the number of P. japonicus at small holes of artificial reefs with and without artificial seaweeds from 24 May 2023 until 4 December 2023, for 43-194 days after installation. Five P. japonicus were observed in small holes of artificial reefs with artificial seaweeds on 6 July, 43 days after installation. The population of P. japonicus increased, reaching a maximum of 57 individuals on 7 September, 106 days after installation, and decreased to 21 individuals on 4 December, 194 days after installation. In contrast, only one P. japonicus was found at the small hole of artificial reef without artificial seaweed. The results of the study suggest that the artificial seaweeds are adjoined to the artificial reefs for increasing the population of P. japonicus at small holes of artificial reefs.
