Top Pink Spiny Lobster Fishing Countries

The pink spiny lobster (Panulirus longipes), a vibrant crustacean recognized by its pinkish hue and long antennae, inhabits the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Unlike the cold-water clawed lobsters, pink spiny lobsters lack large pincers and are prized for their tender, flavorful tail meat. The leading countries in harvesting pink spiny lobsters are Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka, where artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries play a vital economic role in coastal communities. These nations employ traditional traps, nets, and diving methods to catch the lobsters, which are primarily exported to international markets in East Asia and the Middle East, where demand for high-quality seafood remains strong. Sustainable management of these fisheries is increasingly important, as overfishing and habitat degradation threaten the long-term viability of pink spiny lobster populations.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.