Large scale release experiment of juvenile lobsters, Homarus gammarus, in Norway

Abstract

A large scale spring release of juvenile lobsters, Homarus gammarus, was conducted at Kvitsøy, southwestern Norway in March 1990. The lobsters, 14,700 one and a half year old and 8,700 six months old, were tagged internally with coded microtags at the hatchery. The lobsters were transported by road and air to the release site and acclimated to sea water of 6 °C, 15 to 60 minutes prior to release. The lobsters were released from small boats in shallow water, with about one lobster per m2 shoreline. Under water video takings showed that the lobsters were alert, but very calm after release. They moved into shelter within the first hour. No inter-specific aggression or predator fish were observed.