Settlement of the rock lobster,Jasus edwardsii(Decapoda: Palinuridae), at Castlepoint, New Zealand

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Abstract
The occurrence of the puerulus and post‐puerulus stages of the palinurid rock lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton) on the shore and on moored collectors at Castlepoint (40°54/S, 176°14'E) was monitored during 1974–77. Various types of collectors were tested; the least expensive and most robust, which also had the highest catches of larvae, incorporated a series of marine grade plywood sheets held in a metal frame and spaced to give a gap size of 10—15 mm. Large catches (in excess of 10) were made only after the collectors had been immersed in sea water for several weeks. The main period of settlement was December to July, with peaks in January‐February and April‐June. Although no clear correlation between settlement and wind direction was evident, the best correlation was found with onshore winds from the directions 120°‐200°. Only one moult was observed between the recently settled puerulus larva and the fully pigmented, post‐puerulus rock lobster, probably occurring 2–3 weeks after settlement. Pigmentation in the new exoskeleton, visible through the outer, transparent larval exoskeleton, begins soon after settlement.