New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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COMMERCIAL LANDINGS OF THE SPINY LOBSTER JASUS EDWARDSII (HUTTON) AT CHATHAM ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA: PALINURIDAE)

Craig B. Kensler*

Fisheries Research Division, Marine Department, Wellington

Abstract The spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton) supports a thriving new fishery at the Chatham Islands, about 770 km east of New Zealand. Commercial fishing for J. edwardsii started in November 1965, and within 2 years the area became a major centre of New Zealand's large spiny lobster fishery, which earned >NZ$5,000,000 in 1967. Over 12 months (September 1966 to August 1967) landings at the Chatham Islands made up 39.8% of the total New Zealand spiny lobster catch of 16,600,0001b. In the first year of fishing 2,177,923 lb of spiny lobsters were caught, and in the second 7,129,658lb - a 227% increase. Fishing effort also increased substantially: average number of boats fishing each month rose by 174% in the second year, and the total number of boat-fishing days by 152%. Most specimens of J. edwardsii caught are large and mature, typical of a virgin stock.

N.Z. Jl mar. Freshwat. Res. 3: 506-17
Received for publication 15 January 1969

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (600K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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