2011/744 Commercialising translocation of Southern Rocklobster to improve yield and value

By Caleb Garnder et al.

Another Seafood CRC project (2006/220) demonstrated that translocation was successful in changing the colour, growth rate and nutritional value of Southern Rocklobster. Based on these results, the Tasmanian rock lobster industry was overwhelmingly supportive of a commercial scale trial. While the completed pilot scale experiment demonstrated that at low levels of translocation, the Rocklobster stock can be successful enhanced and productivity improved, the next critical stage was to assess the feasibility and economics of achieving this on a large scale, with greater densities.

This project moved translocation from pilot scale research operations to commercial operations. Genetic testing confirmed previous studies and showed that the Tasmanian jurisdiction contained a single stock indicating that translocation does not carry risk of genetic contamination. The project also carried out some analysis of the health status of translocated lobsters and identified no significant health risk.

The project moved an average of 80,000 lobsters per annum, which resulted in an increase in the allowable commercial catch of 52 tonnes each year. This is an approximate increase in revenue of $6 million over the two years of the project, assuming an average market price of $60/kg.

Governance processes were developed and will continue to be applied in the fishery as translocation continues into the future as a commercial operation managed through the peak industry body, the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association. Genetic testing confirmed previous studies and showed that the jurisdiction contained a single stock, as expected with such long lived larvae that disperse over wide areas. This showed that translocation would not harm genetic diversity of Southern Rocklobster.