The Argentinian National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) started the third season of crab larvae (Lithodes santolla). The females were caught in the Central Fishery Management Area (44-48 ° LS) and are being raised at new improved facilities.
Crab spawning lasts one to two months and larvae do not hatch all together. This systematic birth facilitates the tasks of collecting and sampling the larvae that the staff of the Benthic Crustacean Fisheries Program is currently carrying out.
The spawning and growth of crab larvae in captivity constitute an important contribution to the knowledge of the biology of this species. From this information, it is expected to obtain data on growth and survival of the larvae, which would allow progress to a next stage with a larger scale of spawning and production of larvae for restocking.