The southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsit) is fished commercially in south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. The Victorian annual catch is currently 458 tonnes with a landed value of $14.5 million representing 10.6% of total rock lobster landings in south east Australia (ABARE 1997). Over eighty percent of Victoria's catch is taken in the Western Management Zone (from the South Australian border to Apollo Bay).

Catch rates in the Victorian fishery have shown a steady decline from 2.5 kg/potlift in the 1950's to 0.47 kg/potlift in 1996/93 (Anon 1997). Since this time, the Western Zone catch rates have stabilised at around 0.5 kg/potlift (Anon 1997). The Ea.stem Zone catch rate declined steadily until 1992/93, and has shown some stabilisation over the past two years a.nd is currently around 0.3 kg/potlift (Anon 1997).

Investigation of the biology of the species in Victoria highlighted the differences between the two management zones particularly with respect to size composition of the commercial catch, size at onset of sexual maturity (SOM), movement and growth.

Keywords: Southern rock lobster; Jasus edwardsii; abundance estimation; size at maturity; fecundity; recreational catch; stock assessment; growth; tagging.