Mean annual growth increments for male West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii, 1969-1993

Abstract

This note reviews all moult increment information available for male West Coast rock lobster (published and unpublished) and collates these data into a single long-term growth record for each of the major subareas along the South African west coast. The data synthesized highlight the complexity of the growth information available for J. lalandii. The factors influencing direct comparisons of the data are discussed and the possible problems arising from the different techniques used during the study period are examined. The manuscript also incorporates increments of negative growth which were ignored previously.