Review and Outlook for Aquaculture of Ornate Spiny Lobster (Panulirus ornatus)

Panulirus ornatus is a high-value seafood species of the Indo-West Pacific. Anthropogenic pressures since the mid-20th century have led to noticeable declines in wild populations, prompting China to enact protective legislation, while other countries focus on aquaculture and germplasm research to sustain supply and preserve wild populations. Current practices rely on rearing wild-caught post-pueruli in sea net cages, as full-life-cycle commercial breeding faces challenges, high mortality of phyllosoma, poorly understood nutritional needs, and uncertain environmental factors. Juvenile cannibalism during moulting further hinders high-density culture, requiring advanced management to reduce aggression. This review synthesizes progress in P. ornatus aquaculture since 2000, covering germplasm resources, reproduction, larval development, artificial diets, culture techniques, and disease management. It discusses major constraints such as inadequate nutrient profiles for phyllosoma and ineffective cannibalism control for post-pueruli, which limit scalable breeding. The review identifies critical knowledge gaps, proposes research priorities, focusing on nutritional and artificial environment optimization, and underscores the need for technology to advance full-life-cycle breeding. These efforts are vital for sustainable P. ornatus aquaculture to meet global demand while conserving wild stocks.