Spiny Lobster Population Data, Santa Catalina Island (West End), CA USA, 2003-2005

Basic morphometric and demographic data was collected for the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus, around the west end of Santa Catalina Island from Spring 2003-Spring 2005. This region includes two marine protected areas, many popular sport fishing and diving sites, and a continuous stretch of coastline that is commercially fished. Lobsters were caught using commercial lobster traps without juvenile escape ports and mackerel as bait. Traps were set on the first day at randomly selected sites within a blocked sampling scheme and allowed to sit overnight. On the second day, traps were collected and all lobsters within were evaluated on a number of parameters including (but not limited to) carapace length, weight, gender, and fertility state. Animals were marked with either a uropod punch code, colored cable tie, or floy tag to determine movement patterns and growth rates in the event of recapture.