The Effect of Compartment Depth in Nursery Culture on the Growth and Survival of the Scalloped Spiny Lobster (Panulirus homarus)

Abstract

The scalloped spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus) is one of the high-value fishery commodities with great potential for development in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the effect of compartment depth on the growth and survival of scalloped spiny lobster (Panulirus homarus) during the nursery phase using a compartment-based culture system. The research was conducted from June to August 2025 in Ekas Bay, Ekas Buana Village, Jerowaru District, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. The experimental method used in this research was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of five treatments with three replications: lobster rearing at a depth of 0.5 m (A), 1.5 m (B), 2.5 m (C), 3.5 m (D), and 4.5 m (E). The lobster juveniles were reared in 15-liter compartments suspended on a floating net cage frame at a depth of 2 m, with a stocking density of 10 individuals, and cultured for 54 days. The observed parameters included weight and length growth, specific growth rate, and survival rate. The results showed that the depth of 1.5 meters had a significant effect (P<0.05) on absolute growth, absolute length growth, and the specific growth rate of scalloped spiny lobster juveniles. The 1.5-meter depth treatment produced the best results, with an absolute weight gain of 1.59 g, absolute length growth of 1.2 g, a specific growth rate of 0.77 g, and a survival rate of 88.9%.