ABSTRACT
Several species of slipper lobster, especially of the genera Scyllarides, Thenus, and Ibacus, are of commercial importance as food, although prices of slipper lobsters are usually lower than those of local spiny lobsters. Others may serve as baits for additional fisheries or are of interest to the aquarium trade. Many scyllarid lobsters are caught as a by-catch of other fisheries, including that of spiny lobsters. Trawl nets are generally used for fishing on soft bottoms, while traps and trammel nets are used for hard bottoms. Reliable fisheries statistics and stockassessments are not available for most scyllarid species. The majority of slipper lobster fisheries are characterized by the absence of or insufficient regulations and negligible or inadequate reinforcement of these regulations. Several populations of slipper lobsters have, therefore, been depleted and some even became rare in part of their distribution range due to overexploitation. In response to overfishing of spiny lobsters, fishermen in various locations tend to quickly shift their efforts to slipper lobsters, which further endanger these species. Future perspectives focus on extending biological knowledge on major commercial scyllarid species, identifying stocks, and estimating stock size as well as spawning stock. Fishing gear should be improved to reduce mortality and catch of sublegal and berried females. There is also a need for studies to increase health and safety, maximize economic efficiency, and improve postharvest practices for slipper lobsters. Proper management actions are needed to regulate recreational, artisanal, and commercial fisheries, to establish sustainable fisheries, andto preserve present populations of slipper lobster speciesandtheir habitats. Urgent measures should be taken in cases of overexploited and declining populations in an attempt to recover the population or at least stop its decline. This should include appropriate legislation, control and reinforcement, establishment of marine protected areas, and deployment of artificial habitats. Enhancement by laboratory-reared lobsters should be carefully considered where aquaculture of the species is available. Future research also should consider possible shifts in marine ecosystems in response to recent global and man-made changes and their effects on slipper lobsters populations.
