The very high levels of exploitation in the western rock lobster fishery have resulted in the introduction of regional or zone-specific management arrangements in recent years. This is a permanent departure from an holistic approach to the fishery’s regulation.  A detailed knowledge of regional variations in the growth, movement and mortality of the lobsters is required to support the models assessing regional management options.

A need was identified to supplement the Fisheries Western Australia, Research Division’s resources to enable the full analysis of existing tagging data in terms of growth, movements and mortality; to undertake tagging in shallow water to assist in addressing specific management issues; to improve the level of tag recapture information from industry; and to develop a strategic approach to tagging that would assist in providing appropriate advice to management and industry, given the regional approach to the fishery’s regulation.

Tagging of western rock lobsters, using “spaghetti” tags in a dorsal or ventral (or both) position, has been undertaken opportunistically for many years but this report is concerned with data collected from 1988 to 1996.  Most recaptures of tagged lobsters were made during the first commercial season after release (approximately 75%), however, recaptures did occur for up to five seasons post-release. 

Keywords: Western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, tagging, migration, growth, mortality.