Movements of rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) tagged in Fiordland, New Zealand

Abstract

A total of 3417 rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) were tagged and released during five separate tagging periods between February 1979 and September 1982, along the Fiordland coast between Thompson and Caswell Sound, New Zealand. Up to 31 May 1987, 1580 individual rock lobsters (46% of those tagged) had been returned, with 1470 having information on the location of recapture. 145 (10%) of the latter had moved at least 5 km from the tagging site. The longest minimum straight-line sea distance moved by any one animal was 161 km. The largest proportions of rock lobsters that moved and those that moved the longest distances were immature females and small males. The movements of these two sex/maturity stages showed a definite directionality, with most recaptures moving north. Smaller proportions of mature females moved, and they showed no directionality. The multiple recaptures of some mature females during and immediately after the egg-bearing season suggested that homing of some animals may have occurred. © The Royal Society of New Zealand 1993.