Southern Rock Lobster Jasus Edwardsii Research Articles

Trophic discrimination factors and stable isotope variability in a captive feeding trial of the southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii () (Decapoda: Palinuridae) in Tasmania, Australia

Abstract Trophic discrimination or fractionation factors (TDFs), such as ∆15N and ∆13C, are used in stable isotope mixing models to account for differences between source tissues (diet/prey) and consumer tissues (predator). We aimed firstly to obtain TDF values for a spiny lobster, the southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875), to better understand lobster diet in the wild and secondly to investigate variability in isotope signature within tissues of individuals and across a temporal scale to test if non-lethal sampling can be used in an ecological context. We conducted an 18-mo captive feeding trial with juvenile lobsters using three diet treatments and analysed dorsal and leg muscle, along with dorsal and leg exoskeleton for δ13C and δ15N values. Average TDFs for the three diet treatments were 3.86 ± 0.98‰ (∆13C) and 5.06 ± 0.65‰ (∆15N) for leg muscle, and 4.45 ± 1.04‰ (∆13C) and 4.36 ± 0.6‰ (∆15N) for dorsal muscle. When tested against wild lobsters and prey, these TDFs outperformed multi-taxa TDFs found in the literature. Isotope values from lobster leg muscle were not identical to associated dorsal muscle but the two were highly correlated, indicating that non-lethal sampling is acceptable. Values for exoskeleton isotope were significantly different from muscle, likely due to the exoskeleton not being in a constant state of growth and replacement, unlike the muscle tissue, which constantly incorporates new material. We conclude that our experimentally derived TDFs are suitable for mixing model analysis for J. edwardsii and when tested on a wild sample of lobsters they outperformed other TDFs reported in the literature. We show that non-lethal sampling using leg muscle is an appropriate sampling method, since this tissue is highly correlated to the commonly used dorsal muscle. This option for non-lethal sampling enhances the potential to widely sample wild populations or sample during industrial processing without the need to sacrifice whole animals.

Spiny lobsters prefer native prey over range-extending invasive urchins

Abstract Climate change increases the need to control range-extending species, which adversely impact their recipient ecosystem. Increasing populations of resident predators may be effective to counter such range-extension, but only if they consume the novel invaders at sufficient rates. In South-East Australia, poleward range-extending Longspined Sea Urchins (Centrostephanus rodgersii) are causing catastrophic ecological habitat transition to extensive urchin barrens. Tasmanian native Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) is a potential predator that could control further urchin expansion. Experimental feeding trials showed that range-extending Longspined Sea Urchins are the least preferred prey choice for Southern Rock Lobsters (3.8% predation events), when compared to three local species: abalone, urchins, and snails (36.6, 32.6, and 27%). Interestingly, habitat origin and naivete of lobsters to urchins affected urchin consumption with 85% being consumed by lobsters originating from urchin barrens. Low predation rates on Longspined Sea Urchin suggest that resident lobsters are unlikely to control further barren expansion unless a behavioural shift occurs. Results imply that potential control of Longspined Sea Urchins by Southern Rock Lobsters has previously been overestimated. Additional control methods are needed to safeguard ecological communities and important commercial stocks from this climate change-induced, range-extending pest species.

Resident lobsters dominate food competition with range-shifting lobsters in an ocean warming hotspot

Species redistributions are one of the most prevalent changes observed in oceans worldwide due to climate change. One of the major challenges is being able to predict temperature-driven changes to species interactions and the outcome of these changes for marine communities due to the complex nature of indirect effects. In the ocean-warming hotspot of south-east Australia, the ranges of many species have shifted poleward. The range of the eastern rock lobster Sagmariasus verreauxi has extended into warming Tasmanian waters inhabited by the resident southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii, which may lead to increased competitive interactions between the species. Using video monitoring, we investigated how the 2 species compete for food at current (18°C), future (21°C) and future heatwave (24°C) summer temperatures. Behavioural competition occurred in 80% of experiments, during which J. edwardsii won 84% of competitive interactions and showed more aggressive behaviour at all temperatures. This indicates that resident J. edwardsii is not only more dominant in direct food competition than the range-shifting S. verreauxi but, surprisingly, also sustains competitive dominance beyond its physiological thermal optimum under predicted future ocean warming and heatwave scenarios.

Field Validation of the Southern Rock Lobster Paralytic Shellfish Toxin Monitoring Program in Tasmania, Australia.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) are found in the hepatopancreas of Southern Rock Lobster Jasus edwardsii from the east coast of Tasmania in association with blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella. Tasmania’s rock lobster fishery is one of the state’s most important wild capture fisheries, supporting a significant commercial industry (AUD 97M) and recreational fishing sector. A comprehensive 8 years of field data collected across multiple sites has allowed continued improvements to the risk management program protecting public health and market access for the Tasmanian lobster fishery. High variability was seen in toxin levels between individuals, sites, months, and years. The highest risk sites were those on the central east coast, with July to January identified as the most at-risk months. Relatively high uptake rates were observed (exponential rate of 2% per day), similar to filter-feeding mussels, and meant that lobster accumulated toxins quickly. Similarly, lobsters were relatively fast detoxifiers, losing up to 3% PST per day, following bloom demise. Mussel sentinel lines were effective in indicating a risk of elevated PST in lobster hepatopancreas, with annual baseline monitoring costing approximately 0.06% of the industry value. In addition, it was determined that if the mean hepatopancreas PST levels in five individual lobsters from a site were <0.22 mg STX equiv. kg−1, there is a 97.5% probability that any lobster from that site would be below the bivalve maximum level of 0.8 mg STX equiv. kg−1. The combination of using a sentinel species to identify risk areas and sampling five individual lobsters at a particular site, provides a cost-effective strategy for managing PST risk in the Tasmanian commercial lobster fishery.

Response of a southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) population to three years of Marine Protected Area implementation within South Australia

AbstractThe Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park (WKIMP) was declared as part of South Australia's representative system of Marine Protected Areas in 2009. Sanctuary Zone 3 (SZ-3) of the WKIMP is a no-take area protected from fishing since 1 October 2014 and is located within the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF). In February 2017, a dedicated survey was undertaken to estimate the relative abundance (catch per unit effort (CPUE), kg/potlift) and size of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) inside and outside SZ-3. Survey results were then compared with historical estimates of abundance and size obtained from commercial fishery-dependent data. Survey estimates of relative abundance of legal-size lobsters were 4.4 times greater inside SZ-3 compared with outside in 2017. Since 2014, when fishing was last permitted inside SZ-3, the relative abundance of lobsters increased by 75%. The mean size of legal-size female and male lobsters also increased by 4.1% and 12.5%, respectively. The population responses recorded are consistent with the results recorded for southern rock lobster stocks in marine parks in other jurisdictions.

Accumulation of paralytic shellfish toxins by Southern Rock lobster Jasus edwardsii causes minimal impact on lobster health

Recurrent dinoflagellate blooms of Alexandrium catenella expose the economically and ecologically important Southern Rock Lobster in Tasmania to paralytic shellfish toxins (PST), and it is unknown if PST accumulation adversely affects lobster performance, health and catchability. In a controlled aquaculture setting, lobsters were fed highly contaminated mussels to accumulate toxin levels in the hepatopancreas (mean of 6.65 mg STX.2HCl equiv. kg−1), comparable to those observed in nature. Physiological impact of PST accumulation was comprehensively assessed by a range of behavioural (vitality score, righting ability and reflex impairment score), health (haemocyte count, bacteriology, gill necrosis and parasite load), nutritional (hepatopancreas index and haemolymph refractive index) and haemolymph biochemical (21 parameters including electrolytes, metabolites, and enzymes) parameters during a 63 day period of uptake and depuration of toxins. Exposure to PST did not result in mortality nor significant changes in the behavioural, health, or nutritional measures suggesting limited gross impact on lobster performance. Furthermore, most haemolymph biochemical parameters measured exhibited no significant difference between control and exposed animals. However, the concentration of potassium in the haemolymph increased with PST, whilst the concentration of lactate and the sodium:potassium ratio decreased with PST. In addition, exposed lobsters showed a hyperglycaemic response to PST exposure, indicative of stress. These findings suggest that PST accumulation results in some measurable indicators of stress for lobsters. However, these changes are likely within the adaptive range for Jasus edwardsii and do not result in a significant impairment of gross performance. Our findings support previous conclusions that crustaceans are relatively tolerant to PST and the implications for the lobster fishery are discussed.

Paralytic shellfish toxin uptake, tissue distribution, and depuration in the Southern Rock Lobster Jasus edwardsii Hutton

Up to 13.6 mg STX.2HCl equiv. kg−1 of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) have been found in the hepatopancreas of Southern Rock Lobster, Jasus edwardsii, on the east coast of Tasmania. Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella have been reported in this region since 2012. Experimental work was undertaken to improve the understanding of the uptake and depuration mechanisms involved. Adult male lobsters were fed highly toxic mussels (6 mg STX.2HCl equiv. kg−1) sourced from the impacted area. The apparent feed intake of the lobster was positively correlated to increasing PST levels in the hepatopancreas. Toxins accumulated rapidly in the hepatopancreas reaching a maximum of 9.0 mg STX.2HCl equiv. kg−1, then depurated at a rate of 7% per day once toxic fed was removed. However, PST were not detected at significant levels in the haemolymph of these animals. Notable increases occurred in the relative amount of several PST analogues in the hepatopancreas, including GTX2&3, C1&2 and several decarbomoyl toxins in comparison to the profile observed in contaminated mussel feed. The concentration of PST in lobster antennal glands was two orders of magnitude lower than concentrations found in the hepatopancreas. This is the first report of PST in lobster antennal glands which, along with the gills, represent possible excretion routes for PST. Implications for biotoxin risk monitoring are: lobsters will continue to feed during bloom periods and high concentrations of PST can occur; animal collection should be frequent at the start of a bloom in case of a rapid accumulation of PST; and non-lethal sampling is not possible as haemolymph PST levels do not reflect what is in the hepatopancreas.

High levels of site fidelity in movement patterns of Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) in Victoria, Australia

ABSTRACT Movement patterns of the Southern Rock Lobster Jasus edwardsii in Victoria, Australia were investigated from 8,533 tag-recapture events across a 20-year period (1992–2012). In total, 83% of lobsters were recaptured within 1 km of their tagging site and 93% within 5 km. While largely resident, elevated movements were observed within specific regions, with the overall direction of movement being from inshore to offshore areas. Movement was not impacted by lobster sex, size, or reproductive stage. The fishery for Southern Rock Lobster within Victoria is currently managed into two zones with separate total allowable commercial catches in each area. Given the high levels of site fidelity, our findings suggest that management of the resource at this spatial scale is appropriate and that consideration of significant movement between zones is not warranted in fishery stock assessment models.

Trends in productivity of Southern Rock Lobster Jasus edwardsii, across south-eastern Australia: Evidence of a regime shift?

In south-eastern Australia, Southern Rock Lobster Jasus edwardsii supports important regional fisheries across the States of South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Previous studies across the region have identified considerable synchrony in both larval settlement and recruitment, suggesting that the mechanisms driving these processes occur across broad spatial scales. This study aimed to further examine cross-jurisdictional fishery patterns by analysing long-term trends in Surplus Production (SP) as a measure of annual stock productivity. The results showed evidence of a common trend across south-eastern Australia. Specifically, a substantially rapid decline in SP was observed around the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s period. This decline was particularity evident in both the Northern Zone of South Australia and the Tasmanian fishery. It is suggested that these results may reflect a regime shift in Southern Rock Lobster productivity across south-eastern Australia, which should be considered in terms of future management of the resource.

Changes in metabolic rate of spiny lobster under predation risk

Animals exposed to high levels of predation risk may exhibit a variety of changes in life history, behaviour, physiology and morphology that can affect survival. Under predation threat, prey individuals may increase their aerobic metabolism to allocate energy toward escaping behaviours (e.g. ‘fight or flight’), although the associated energetic cost of such behaviour remains largely unknown. Lobsters display different anti-predatory responses, such as sheltering and/or escaping, but the underlying energetic cost of such responses has not been examined. Here, we tested the aerobic metabolic response of southern rock lobsters Jasus edwardsii in the presence of predator (Maori octopus Octopus maorum) olfactory cues (kairomones) using open-flow respirometry. We examined the routine metabolic rate of lobsters in response to predator kairomones during the active phase of their diurnal cycle (at night) to investigate the physiological anti-predator response when lobsters are most vulnerable. Our findings revealed that lobsters strongly reduced their routine metabolism for 3 h by 31.4% when exposed to kairomones in comparison to controls. Our findings suggest that under laboratory conditions, lobsters exposed to predation risk during the night reduce their activity to avoid predators, i.e. the anti-predator mechanism is to be immobile or inactive rather than showing a fight-or-flight response. Lobster immobility may be an energetically advantageous anti-predator response in the short term; however, prolonged or regular predator exposure could have significant consequences on foraging time and foraging area, with an overall impact on lobster performance, particularly in environments with high predator presence such as fishing grounds.

Paralytic shellfish toxins in Australian Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii): Acute human exposure from consumption of hepatopancreas

ABSTRACTParalytic shellfish toxins (PST) were identified in the hepatopancreas of Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) during Alexandrium tamarense blooms in Tasmania, Australia. Human health risk from PST in lobsters was unknown – this study assesses exposure to PST from hepatopancreas consumption. Lobster hepatopancreas samples collected during blooms (n = 181) were mostly positive for PST (>88%), the highest concentration was 4032 μg STX-2HCl eq/kg. Consumer exposure to PST was estimated using a 2-D Monte Carlo model. Mean PST intake (pi) from hepatopancreas consumption (raw and cooked) was below the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) for PST (<2.0 μg/kg bw), however the 97.5th percentile pi for raw meals (2.64 μg/kg bw) exceeded the LOAEL. A total of 4.1% of raw hepatopancreas meals were estimated to exceed the LOAEL. Lobster hepatopancreas consumption during A. tamarense blooms may be concerning for a small proportion of consumers, particularly those that eat large meals at the bloom peak. However, when the model was re-run with PST concentration capped at the bivalve regulatory limit (800 μg STX-2HCl eq/kg) pi decreased, with the 97.5th percentile values below the LOAEL. Thus, issuing public health warnings and harvesting restrictions for lobsters when levels exceed 800 μg STX-2HCl eq/kg would reduce the probability of illness occurring.

Overview, opportunities and outlook for Australian spiny lobster fisheries

Australia’s lobster fisheries are relatively small in volume (9500t) compared with global production (289,000t), but are the country’s most valuable in terms of both overall production and value of export (2014 Gross Value of Production of $610 million AUD). Further, they support commercial, recreational and indigenous fishers along most of the continent’s coastline. Here we review similarities and key differences between these lobster fisheries, based on biological characteristics, fishery data collection, assessment and management methods, and supply chain considerations. A diverse range of palinurid lobsters occur in Australia, but only three genera, distributed across eight different management jurisdictions, support significant fisheries. Catches of western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus dominate landings (61%), followed by southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii, tropical lobster Panulirus ornatus and the eastern rock lobster Sagmariasus verreauxi. Large-scale environmental influences such as climate change are impacting on these fisheries in similar or different ways forcing new management and raising the need for greater resilience in current supply chains. Although these are separate fisheries, the integrated nature of the dominant Chinese export markets suggests potentially important economic and market-related interactions. Our overview highlights the critical role of continued monitoring of recruitment pulses, in combination with robust harvest strategies, to ensure that harvests respond adequately and fisheries achieve biological and economic sustainability. Approaches that also include socio-cultural considerations (triple bottom line) are important given many fisheries include indigenous Australians. Our integrated analysis of Australian lobster fisheries highlights differences and similarities with spiny lobster fisheries worldwide and lessons from opportunities, including adapting to new free trade agreements, enhancing the reputation of wild lobsters as a whole, sharing expertise, and better alignment of supply and demand.

Predation Risk within Fishing Gear and Implications for South Australian Rock Lobster Fisheries

Depredation of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) within fishing gear by the Maori octopus (Pinnoctopus cordiformis) has economic and ecological impacts on valuable fisheries in South Australia. In addition, depredation rates can be highly variable resulting in uncertainties for the fishery. We examined how in-pot lobster predation was influenced by factors such as lobster size and sex, season, fishing zone, and catch rate. Using mixed modelling techniques, we found that in-pot predation risk increased with lobster size and was higher for male lobsters. In addition, the effect of catch rate of lobsters on predation risk by octopus differed among fishing zones. There was both a seasonal and a spatial component to octopus predation, with an increased risk within discrete fishing grounds in South Australia at certain times of the year. Information about predation within lobster gear can assist fishery management decision-making, potentially leading to significant reduction in economic losses to the fishery.

Estimating survival of rock lobsters from long-term tagging programmes: how survey number and interval influence estimates

Abstract A long-term tagging dataset on southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) conducted at the Crayfish Point Scientific Reserve near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, was used to determine how survey number and survey duration affected the precision of survival estimates of male and female lobsters to ensure sustainable exploitation of the population. Tagging surveys were undertaken twice yearly during 2000–2003 with unequal time-intervals between surveys and then once a year with equal time-intervals during 2004–2012 during the January–February period. The most parsimonious Cormack–Jolly–Seber model for estimating survival of lobsters was dependent on (i) timing of the tagging and recapture surveys, (ii) time between consecutive recapture surveys, and (iii) gender. The number of surveys required to provide a precise survival probability varied with gender and time between recapture surveys. For surveys where there was unequal time between recapture surveys, seven and five surveys were required for female and male lobsters, respectively, whereas only five surveys were required when annual surveys were undertaken. Thus, lobster tagging projects using annual surveys should ideally extend to at least 5 years, which is beyond the 3-year project duration common in marine science.

Residency and movement dynamics of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) after a translocation event

Previous movement studies on the southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) have all involved releasing tagged animals at the point of capture. In 2007, 5298 lobsters, in total, were tagged and translocated from an offshore site (&gt;100-m depth) to two inshore sites (&lt;20-m depth) in South Australia. After a period of 735 days, 510 (9.6%) had been recaptured. The majority of translocated lobsters were located within close proximity to the release points, with 306 (60%) having moved &lt;5km. Of the remainder, 133 (26%) were recaptured within 5–10km, with a further 71 (14%) individuals having moved &gt;10km. Movement patterns were highly directional in nature, with individuals consistently travelling in a south-west bearing, regardless of distance moved. In almost all cases, movement was from inshore to offshore sites, with female lobsters travelling significantly further (mean 5.66km ±6.41s.d.) than males (mean 5.02km ±9.66s.d.). The results are consistent with previous large-scale tagging studies of J. edwardsii, which indicated high residency levels but with occasional directed movement by some individuals.

A Quantitative Metric to Identify Critical Elements within Seafood Supply Networks

A theoretical basis is required for comparing key features and critical elements in wild fisheries and aquaculture supply chains under a changing climate. Here we develop a new quantitative metric that is analogous to indices used to analyse food-webs and identify key species. The Supply Chain Index (SCI) identifies critical elements as those elements with large throughput rates, as well as greater connectivity. The sum of the scores for a supply chain provides a single metric that roughly captures both the resilience and connectedness of a supply chain. Standardised scores can facilitate cross-comparisons both under current conditions as well as under a changing climate. Identification of key elements along the supply chain may assist in informing adaptation strategies to reduce anticipated future risks posed by climate change. The SCI also provides information on the relative stability of different supply chains based on whether there is a fairly even spread in the individual scores of the top few key elements, compared with a more critical dependence on a few key individual supply chain elements. We use as a case study the Australian southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii fishery, which is challenged by a number of climate change drivers such as impacts on recruitment and growth due to changes in large-scale and local oceanographic features. The SCI identifies airports, processors and Chinese consumers as the key elements in the lobster supply chain that merit attention to enhance stability and potentially enable growth. We also apply the index to an additional four real-world Australian commercial fishery and two aquaculture industry supply chains to highlight the utility of a systematic method for describing supply chains. Overall, our simple methodological approach to empirically-based supply chain research provides an objective method for comparing the resilience of supply chains and highlighting components that may be critical.

Conversion of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) carapace length to tail width for enforcement of size limits

The morphometric relationship of carapace length (CL) to tail width (TW) of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) was determined to assist enforcement of existing minimum size limits and also to enable the development of an upper size limit in Tasmania. Data were collected from southern rock lobsters in the wild and at processors and used to develop a system for measuring TW which reduces measurement error. Linear regression was used to define the relationship between CL and TW for males (TW = 0.4107x+14.058, R2=.9236, n=1003) and females (TW=0.5756x+2.2884, R2=.9323, n=503). Logistic regressions provide the TWs associated with the probability (0.5, 50 and 95%) of a lobster having a carapace equal to or more than the theoretical size limits. Regional differences in the morphometric relationship were evident but would not prevent the use of size limit based on TW if a conservative probability value were used.

The importance of conserving recruitment pulses in rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fisheries where puerulus settlement is low or highly sporadic

The commercial fishery for southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) is South Australia's most valuable fishery resource worth in excess of AUS$100 million annually. Over the past decade, recruitment to the fishable biomass has decreased, which has translated to declines in commercial catch rates. In the Northern Zone fishery, catch per unit effort (CPUE) declined from 1.42 kg/potlift in 1999 to 0.67 kg/potlift in 2008, a decrease of 52%. Puerulus monitoring has been undertaken since 1996, with the period from settlement to recruitment estimated at ~4 years. In 2002, 2005 and 2006, spikes in settlement were recorded, which were predicted to enter the fishery as recruitment pulses in 2006, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Management decisions failed to conserve the 2006 recruitment pulse by setting total allowable commercial catches (TACCs) above actual catch estimates. However, in 2008, a conservative management approach was adopted with the TACC reduced from 470 to 310 t despite 403 t being landed in the 2008 season. In 2009, CPUE increased by 31% to 0.88 kg/potlift while fishing effort decreased by 42%. In 2010, CPUE increased further to 1.07 kg/potlift, the highest since 2000. The study highlights the importance of management decisions that conserve recruitment pulses in order to sustain lobster resources on which fisheries depend.

Co-expressed peJK genes of lobster (Jasus edwardsii)

Previous studies have shown that the two novel genes of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) named peJK2 and peJK3 are implicated in eyestalk hormonal regulation of the lobster moult cycle. Northern blot, in situ hybridisation studies and sequence analyses showed that their putative products might be transmembrane proteins associated with cell signal transduction of hormonal signals in the eyestalk during the intermoult phase of the moult cycle. The aim of this study was to analyse coexpression of peJK genes in different J. edwardsii tissues. Using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression of peJK genes was analysed in seven different tissues (eyestalk, brain, epidermis, hepatopancreas, gill, muscle and heart) of an intermoult lobster. During RT-PCR analysis, a novel sequence was isolated, and was named peJK4. It shares 88% and 86% sequence identity with peJK2 and peJK3 respectively. The peJK2 and peJK4 genes are expressed in all tested tissues. Sequence analyses of the predicted peJK2 and peJK4 proteins revealed two common signal transduction motifs, transmembrane helices and protein kinase C. These results showed that the peJK genes of J. edwardsii are a complex group of genes and possibly involved in different signal transduction pathways.

Improving marketability through translocation: a lobster case study from southern Australia

Abstract Chandrapavan, A., Gardner, C., Green, B. S., Linnane, A., and Hobday, D. 2011. Improving marketability through translocation: a lobster case study from southern Australia. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1842–1851. Translocation as a method to increase the value of less-marketable, deep-water southern rock lobster Jasus edwardsii was explored. First, variation in the commercially important shell colouration and body shape between deep- and shallow-water Tasmanian populations and among South Australian and Victorian populations was quantified. Deep-water J. edwardsii were pale in colour, with longer walking legs but less meat content than shallow-water, red-coloured J. edwardsii. Traits in body shape were variable among deep-water populations across the three states and between sexes in each population. Deep-water lobsters were then translocated to a shallow-water inshore reef to determine whether the observed variation in traits was plastic and whether translocation could be used to improve the quality of deep-water lobsters. Translocated lobsters were then monitored over a 14-month post-release period, and during this time, they changed from a pale/white colour to the more marketable red colour within a single moult. Plasticity was observed in tail morphology, but not in leg morphology. The translocation experiment was successful in transforming pale/white deep-water lobsters into red lobsters with higher market value in a phenotypic response to habitat manipulation. Translocation appears to have commercial application for exploiting natural plasticity in the market traits of lobsters to increase price.