Recatches of marked lobster, Homarus gammarus, released in 1988
Original version
This report is not to be cited without prior reference to the authorsAbstract
A pilot scale release of juvenile lobsters, Homarus gammarus, was
conducted at Austevoll, western Norway in August 1988. One and
two year old lobsters were marked with a brand on either the
carapace or the tail. The two year classes were marked
differently. The lobsters were released immediately after arrival
from the hatchery, with divers and by dropping the lobsters
through tubes in shallow water. Sea temperature was 15 degree C.
The lobsters was either apathetic or made convulsive swimming
action, resulting in a loss to predatory fishes of at least 15%
within the first hour. Still, in 1990, marked lobsters began to
appeare in the lobster catches. In two of the release spots,
these lobsters contributed to 50 % to 85% of the lobsters of
caught. Weight gain had been about 26 times the weight in 1988
and carapace length was about 40% larger than at release. Bottom
observations found the lobsters spaced out with no less than 3
m between each.