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Southern Rock Lobster
Image courtesy of SARDI
(Jasus edwardsii)
Appearance
Southern Rock Lobsters range in colour from purple to orange to yellow. The carapace has numerous small spines, and two long 'supraorbital' spines. Adults can be up to 230 mm in length, measured along the carapace, with the male tending to be slightly larger than the female.
Distribution & Life Cycle
Southern Rock Lobsters are found from northern New South Wales right around the lower part of Australia to Western Australia, up to about latitude 29°S. They mate between April and July, and the female then carries the eggs under her abdomen for 4-6 months. The female is said to be 'in berry' during this time. A large female may carry 3-400,000 eggs. The eggs hatch into planktonic larvae that drift out into the open ocean for up to 2 years. Finally the larvae change into 'pueruli', which resemble the adult body shape but are transparent. The pueruli swim in to the continental shelf and then settle nearer to the coast, in waters between 1m and 200m deep.
The lobsters reach maturity at between 3 and 5 years of age. They feed, usually at night, on small crustaceans, echinoderms (sea-urchins, sea-stars, etc), and other benthic (bottom dwelling) life. Their main predators include the octopus and some shark and fish species (eg gummy shark, flathead, rock cod).
Fishing in the Region
Commercial fishing is mainly based in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The lobsters are caught using mesh 'pots' usually baited with fish. Most of the catch is exported to Japan and Asia. Experiments are underway into the use of holding cages for 'grow-out' farming.
References
Kailola, P.; Williams, M.J.; Stewart, P.C.; Reichelt, R.E.; McNee, A.; Grieve, C. 1993,
Australian Fisheries Resources
Bureau of Resource Sciences, Dept. of Primary Industries and Energy, and Fisheries Resource and Development Corporation, Canberra Australia.
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