RELATIVE ABUNDANCES OF SPINY LOBSTER PALINURUS-DELAGOAE AND SLIPPER LOBSTER SCYLLARIDES-ELISABETHAE OFF THE EAST-COAST OF SOUTH-AFRICA

Relative abundances of spiny lobster Palinurus delagoae and slipper lo bster Scyllarides elisabethae were estimated during a trap-fishing sur vey off the east coast of South Africa. An average abundance index of 446,8 g . trap(-1) was estimated for both species combined, P. delagoa e contributing 301,9 g . trap(-1) (67,6%) and S. elisabethae 144,9 g . trap(-1) (32,4%). It is concluded that P. delagoae can be exploited e ffectively off South Africa using traps, bur there is a need to take b oth lobster species into consideration in a management strategy.