Mckoy: Movements of rock lobsters, Ja . . .

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

Movements of rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii (Decapoda: Palinuridae), tagged near Stewart Island, New Zealand

J. L. McKOY

Fisheries Research Division Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries P.O. Box 297, Wellington New Zealand

Abstract A total of 4393 female and small male rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii, were tagged and released near Stewart Island and in eastern Fov-eaux Strait between 1974 and 1978. Most recaptures had not moved more than 5 km but 16% of immature females and small males underwent highly directional movements along the southeast coast of Stewart Island, and 16 were recaptured in Fiordland. Rock lobsters which undertook long distance movements included those which were classified by fishermen as migratory animals, plus some small, local inshore animals. These observations add support to the hypothesis that a regular migration of immature rock lobsters takes place around southern New Zealand, probably with no single area of origin or destination.

Keywords Jasus edwardsii; Palinuridae; movement; tagging; migrations; Foveaux Strait; Stewart Island; Fiordland

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