Improving post-harvest survival of live held Southern Rock Lobster

The export of southern rock lobsters from southern Australia to markets in Asia is one of Australia’s most valuable fisheries. The ability to maintain or hold lobsters for extended periods is imperative for the industry to capitalise on fluctuating market demand and gain maximum return for the fishery product. However, at times significant mortality occurs and a concerted effort is needed to determine its cause and develop strategies to minimise its impact. This project will undertake an epidemiological investigation to describe the magnitude of mortality events and identify potential environmental and management risk factor(s) associated with increased mortality. It will examine underlying physiological processes or mechanisms resulting in lobster mortality and potential links with marine biotoxins. A review of the pathology of mortality events in the 2016 and 2017 seasons will provide additional insights to the study.