Research for Management of the Ornate Tropical Rock Lobster (Panulirus ornatus) Fishery in the Torres Strait 2001

The aims of the project are to provide managers with information and advice to facilitate sound management of the Torres Strait tropical lobster fishery, by undertaking stock assessment and biological research. The research objectives include: annual population surveys; annual Islander catch monitoring, parameter estimation (growth, mortality and recruitment); and fisheries dynamics modelling.

This annual report summarises activities undertaken since July 2000. The twelfth annual lobster survey was recently completed (June 2001), and preliminary analysis of data from this survey has been completed and results are reported here.