Direct age determination with validation for commercially important Australian lobster and crab species: Western, Eastern, Southern and Ornate Rock Lobsters and Crystal, Giant and Mud Crabs

This research project stemmed from the principal investigator’s (J. Leland) pioneering crustacean ageing research at Southern Cross University (see Leland et al., 2011), for which he was awarded the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2013 Science and Innovation Award (Fisheries category). The associated Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) funded grant initiated a one year research project into direct age-determination studies for two short-lived Australian crustaceans (i.e. the Mud Crab, Scylla serrata and Redclaw Crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus). That project allowed J. Leland to refine his direct ageing protocols and resulted in one scientific publication (Leland et al., 2015) and an Honours thesis (Sarapuk, 2014) that demonstrated the methods applicability to short-lived subtropical decapods. During that time, co-investigator S. de Lestang was investigating the utility of direct methods for ageing Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus – see Rudd, 2013), while applying for FRDC funding (along with other co-investigators) to support further research. This project represents a combination of the two initiatives. Recognition of the value of developing direct methods for ageing crustaceans, while extending Australian leadership in this field has led to this collaborative effort. This project aligns with five FRDC Strategic Priority Areas: Program 1 (Environment), Program 2 (Industry), Program 3 (Communities), Program 4 (People) and Program 5 (Adoption).