Direct age determination with validation for commercially important Australian lobster and crab species (western, eastern, southern and ornate rock lobster, and crystal, Tasmanian giant and mud crab) (Old ID 21354)
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
Age information for commercially important crustaceans is necessary for calculating growth, mortality, recruitment and productivity, and is a critical component for any sustainable fisheries management plan. Until recently, direct age determination was considered impossible for crustaceans and only indirect methods existed (e.g. size frequency distributions). However, recent research has demonstrated that direct age determination of crustaceans is possible. Clear growth marks have been identified in gastric ossicles from several key Australian species. This project will produce validated ages for several crustacean species, across their full size range and in climatic regions other than the cool temperate conditions assessed previously. Validated age information will facilitate the sustainable management of Australia's crustaceans fisheries. This component managed by JCU will examine the tropical rock lobster Panulirus ornatus.
Date
01 Jul 2014 - 30 Jun 2016
Project Type
N/A
Keywords
Lobster;Growth;Panulirus ornatus (Palinuridae);Ageing
Funding Body
Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
Amount
2302
Project Team
N/A