Western Rock Lobster Migration Dynamics from Tag-Recapture Analysis

Over 20,000 tag–recaptured lobsters were analyzed to determine migration dynamics of the Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) in Western Australia. The dataset, provided by Parks Australia, originates from research assessing the impact of reduced harvest rates implemented in 2008. The study found migration is associated with body size and water depth, with up to 50% of lobsters moving from coastal areas to deeper waters during migration periods.

Use Cases

• Modeling migration probability based on body size and location mentioned in the description
• Assessing the impact of fishery harvest rates on lobster biomass and commercial catches
• Studying orientation mechanisms in marine species based on described factors like magnetism and oceanic currents
• Analyzing contranatant migration behavior that counteracts larval dispersal

Strengths

• Analysis based on over 20,000 tag–recaptured lobsters provides a substantial sample size.
• Research context is clearly described, including the 2008 policy change to reduce harvest rates.
• Specific migration percentages are provided, such as up to 50% of lobsters moving from coastal to deeper waters.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified; the record's last update is 2026-07-16.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia, sourced from the decommissioned Australian Marine Parks Science Atlas.

Collection Method

Analysis of tag–recapture data from lobsters.

Time Range

Study references data from 2008 onward, but specific collection period is not stated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 23:23:06.754946; freshness should be verified

Geography

Western Rock Lobster fishery in Western Australia, including the Abrolhos Islands.