ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF CAPTURE-BASED MARICULTURE (CBM) OF SPINY LOBSTER Panulirus homarus (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN THARUVAIKULAM, THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT

Lobster are highly prized commodity and a delicacy for Chinese and Japanese society. In India there is a high potential for growing this in sea cage because India has long coast line. The present study was conducted in Tharuvaikulam in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. The aim of this study was to assess the economic feasibility of capture based mariculture of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus in open sea. This study also reports the socio-economic potential of spiny lobster culture and how it can be a good livelihood opportunities and also produce income generation in coastal Tamil Nadu.