NIOT has taken up new initiatives towards helping island communities in their needs relating to Ocean Science and Technology as well as marine resource enhancement. The first activity taken up by NIOT is a programme on lobster resource enhancement for islands under the DOD project on Living Marine Resources Enhancement (LMRE).

The programme on lobster resource enhancement is already underway by utilizing the hatchery facility of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC) available at Neelankarai, Chennai. Several experiments have already been carried out in the following areas:

a. Fattening of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus using different live feeds (mussels and clams)

b. Biochemical analysis of lobsters and live feeds

c. Water quality and disease management

d. Spawning and larval rearing, and

e. Survey of lobster resources in Gulf of Mannar and Andaman Islands.

In a study conducted on lobster fattening using gray clam as live feed, a remarkable increment in body weight (i.e. around 35 g/month) has been achieved. However, most of the animals were found to be losing body pigmentation. Another experiment was conducted using green mussel as a feed source in place of clam. The animals, which lost pigmentation were fed with mussel meat and maintained in a dark environment. All the animals regained pigmentation and also underwent moulting faster than clam fed animals. Although the feeding rate was slightly higher for the clam fed animals, the gross conversion efficiency and food conversion ratio were found to be almost similar. The various biochemical analysis such as protein, free amino acids, carbohydrates, free & bound sugars, protease, ?-amylase and chitinase indicate the suitability of mussel meat as a better alternative to the clam as feed source for lobsters.

During the fattening of lobsters, various hydrobiological parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, silicate, ammonia and phosphate in the source water as well as the experimental tanks were estimated. The phytoplankton species present in the source water were also identified in order to utilize them as feed for larvae. The occurrence of various protozoans, total heterotrophic bacterial population and Vibrios load was observed in the body surface of lobster, live feeds and water (both from tanks and source). The animals with tail rot syndrome were successfully treated with appropriate concentration of malachite green and 100% recovery was observed in 20-22 days.

At the new campus of NIOT, R & D laboratories, which will cater to all the analytical requirements of the LMRE project, have been organised. All major and minor equipment are commissioned and the laboratory is fully operational now.

A survey on landing of lobsters at various sites in Gulf of Mannar and Andaman islands has been completed by December 1999. It indicates a decline in landings at various sites, a trend which was in evidence from previous surveys of lobster resources during the last few years.

The activities of erstwhile Andaman Nicobar Centre for Ocean Development (ANCOD) of Department of Ocean Development has been integrated with NIOT as Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology (ANCOST) in order to implement the various core activities previously initiated under the LMRE programme. For this purpose, already existing facilities like boats and sea water pumps have been repaired and commissioned. A layout of new laboratory building has been finalised and the building is expected to be functional very soon. Using the farm facility in Minnie Bay, the problems associated with the culture of lobster and sea ranching of its early life stages are being examined.