Study of the ecology of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758) habitats on the coasts of Sistan and Baluchestan province in order to establish artificial reef structures to stock enhancement resource

Spiny lobster is one of the most valuable crustaceans in the Gulf of Oman. Overfishing in recent decades has reduced the stocks of this aquatic resource. Therefore, accurate knowledge and study of ecological parameters of lobster habitats are very important because the seabed structure and ecological parameters in these habitats are widely associated with the presence, absence and distribution of lobsters. The current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the classification of sediments, the abundance of macrobenthos and environmental factors on a seasonal basis along seven transects and 28 stations. It was carried out in the rocky areas of the coast of Ramin in the east of Chabahar port. The mean values of temperature, salinity, turbidity, acidity and chlorophyll a in the study area were 26.38 ° C, 36.65 PSU, 2.59 FTU, 8.1, 86 µg / L, 0.86, respectively. Almost similar environmental parameters were observed between similar points between the depth of 5 and 15 meters. The macrobenthos results in the studied stations showed that foraminifera and Polychaeta are the most prevalent macrobenthos groups and in the deepest stations in transect T3. Percentages of sand, silt and clay for the sediment samples were 93%, 5% and 2%, respectively. The sedimentary texture of the bed plays an important role in the movement of the lobster in the habitat, and the rocky and sandy bed is a suitable habitat for the lobster. According to the results of this study, the highest percentage of sediment sand was observed in the eastern part of Ramin port. There were similar environmental parameters for equal depths of water. Furthermore, Macrobenthos were most abundant in the eastern region of Ramin port in spring and autumn and agreed with pre-Manson and post-Manson conditions. Therefore, the stations in the eastern part of Ramin port are suitable places for the establishment of artificial reefs.