The most important populations of the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus(Latreille, 1804)) in the Atlantic are found in the Caribbean and along the Brazilian coast. Field studies covering the waters off the Cuban archipelago and Brazil have improved our understanding of the importance of oceanic circulation to larval recruitment. South of Cuba, puerulus settlement is intensive in October and November when the coastal reefs (83°W) are impacted by a cyclone-anticyclone pair, suggesting this area is the main source of retention and supply of surviving larvae, thus of self-recruitment. On the continental shelf of Brazil, puerulus settlement takes place throughout the year, but two annual peaks have been identified: one in March-April and one in July-September, when retroflection eddies of the North Brazil Current are more intense and feed into the eastward-flowing North Equatorial Countercurrent. Conceivably, Brazilian spiny lobster larvae are trapped in this oceanic system, leading to self-recruitment. On the continental shelf of Brazil the larval period lasts 6-7 months, depending on the season and spawning date. In the Caribbean the period is reported to be 6-8 months. Information on the relative abundance of early-stage spiny lobster larvae makes it possible to predict patterns of recruitment of pueruli and juveniles and the timing of their life cycle. However, further research on seasonal variations in local currents, current retroflection and ring formation is needed to clarify important aspects of larval transport, puerulus settlement and recruitment.

The continental shelf of Brazil is home to a wide range of lobster species, with varying body size, color, habitat preference, and geographic and bathymetric distribution. Spiny lobsters (Panulirus) and slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) are exploited for export and for the domestic market. Deep sea lobsters (Nephropidae and Polychelidae) have no commercial potential, and little is known about their biology. In this review, we identified 24 lobster species from benthic ecosystems off Brazil (Palinuridae 25%, Scyllaridae 29%, Nephropidae 25%, Polychelidae 17%, Enoplometopidae 4%). We designed a simplified theoretical scheme to understand the role of lobsters in the ecosystem, based on available evidence of distribution, biodiversity, life cycle, connectivity, and abundance. Finally, we propose a theoretical scheme of trophic top-down control, with interactions between a large decapod (spiny lobster), a demersal predator (red snapper), an apex predator (small tuna), benthic invertebrates and fishing exploitation.

The major biodiversity on the planet is present in coastal and oceanic environments, despite this, on the northern continental shelf of Brazil, data on most of the marine groups still are deficient, especially in areas deeper than 20 m and in the continental slope area. This lack of data is aggravated by high fisheries exploitation, which causes a decline in large, abundant populations, even leading them to threat of extinction. Among that marine biodiversity, no group has a larger morphological variety than crustaceans. In this scenario, knowledge about the local biodiversity, its richness and seasonality, is essential for a qualified fisheries management. The Amazon continental shelf has one of the largest shrimp fisheries in the country, and due to the ecological and economic importance that crustaceans have in the region, a detailed study on their diversity is necessary. In this article, we use data collected in the Revizee Program. We identified 91 species: crabs (32.97%), shrimp (28.57%), anomurans (10.99%), soft crabs (10.99%), lobsters (9.89%), stomatopods (4.40%) and isopods (2.20%). The State of Amapá had fewer species ($\mathit{n}=11$) compared to Pará ($\mathit{n}=47$). The data analysis shows there is a lack of knowledge about the real biodiversity present on the Amazon continental shelf.

We evaluated the impact of environmental variability on lobster Panulirus argus and Panulirus laevicauda resources in the waters off Brazil and southern Cuba. This study also covered aspects of larval recruitment associated with the availability of fishing resources in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Satellite-generated environmental data were sampled from 18 stations, 6 of which were in the sea off southern Cuba, 6 of which were in the coastal region of Brazil, and 6 of which were offshore near Brazil, covering important lobster fishing grounds and phyllosoma-rich areas of ocean surface circulation along the offshore boundary. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was used to quantify the global ocean–atmosphere variability. Other environmental parameters included in the analysis were the monthly coastal sea levels, surface temperature (SST), salinity, wind/current speed, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, rainfall (RF), and Amazon River discharge (ARD). Variations in the level of puerulus settlement, juveniles, and population harvest in the coastal region of Brazil and Cuba were used to better understand the impact of environmental variability on organisms in their larval stages and their subsequent recruitment to fisheries. The surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, and wind/current patterns were significantly associated with the variability in puerulus settlement. Larger-scale processes (as proxied by the SOI) affected RF, ARD, and sea levels, which reached a maximum during La Niña. As for Brazil, the full-year landings prediction model included Chl-a concentration, SST, RF, and ARD and their association with lobster landings (LLs). The landing predictions for Cuba were based on fluctuations in the Chl-a concentration and SST.

Spiny lobsters are the main target of commercial fisheries along the coast of Brazil. Little is known about lobster egg production, making it difficult to estimate reproductive capacity. The purpose of this study was to update fecundity data on Brazilian lobsters as a subsidy for stock management and prevention of overexploitation. For the first time, fecundity equations for the two main Brazilian species of spiny lobster are proposed: Egg count = 29 552e^0.0274x (; ; ) for Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) collected off Northeastern Brazil and the Great Amazon Reef System, and Egg count = 13 662e^0.0361x (; ; ) for Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille, 1817) collected off Northeastern Brazil in 2021. Mean fecundity data for the period 1968-2021 show that fecundity levels declined over four decades, then partially recovered after the 6-month closed season was implemented in 2012, suggesting the measure has been effective at protecting lobster reproduction, allowing stocks of both species to recover between fishing seasons. Efficient management requires strict control of lobster fisheries, regular collection of reliable fishing data and investments in life cycle research.