BREEDING PERIOD AND SIZE IN THE SOUTH COAST ROCK-LOBSTER, PALINURUS-GILCHRISTI (DECAPODA, PALINURIDAE)

The breeding period in female P. gilchristi was determined by integrat ing periods of higher egg-bearing proportions with the preceding ripen ing of ovaries. Most ovaries in the central sector ripened in June (c. 75% in Stage 4), followed by spawning in July/August. Most females (a ll size-classes) bear eggs between July (40,0%) and November (50,2%). A significant percentage of females with a carapace length >80 mm also bear eggs in March (50,5%). Arguments for a single, bimodally distrib uted breeding cycle as opposed to two spawnings per year for large fem ales are given. The relationship between breeding period and rock lobs ter size along the coast was examined for a number of years of data.