PUERULUS SETTLEMENT OF THE SPINY LOBSTER, PANULIRUS ARGUS (LATREILLE, 1804) ALONG THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN COAST

This study examines the settlement patterns of the Caribbean lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) on the continental shelf of Caribbean Colombia during a period of 16 months (December 2002-March 2004). Field studies of the puerulus settlement were performed using 20 submerged collectors between 10 and 11 m depth, at three locations (Taganga Bay, Pelicano Island and Pozos Colorados Bay) and five stations. Our goal was to collect information comparable among stations, to analyse the spatio-temporal variability of puerulus settlement, and to verify possible associations with the discharge of the Orinoco River and the regional oceanic circulation. The peak time of larval recruitment occurred in March and April, in July the influx of settlement was minimal, and a second peak occurred between August and November. We propose a hypothesis that the Panama-Colombia gyre (quasi-permanent) located in the southern Colombia Basin, could provide the mechanism that ensures self-recruitment of the stock in this region.