With the increasing interest of lobster processors to keep lobsters for extended time periods prior to sale, and of the lobster industry in general in lobster aquaculture, there is a need for information on lobster health management. It is well recognised that a range of diseases and conditions occur in wildstock lobsters (Evans & Brock, 1994) and that health management problems are likely to be encountered in enhancement and aquaculture of spiny rock lobsters. In order to prevent disease outbreaks, or effectively deal with such conditions should they occur, reference material is required for use by personnel involved in enhancement and aquaculture programs. At present there is very little published information on health management of spiny rock lobsters held in captivity. A valuable first step to address this need would be the publication of a manual describing the approach to be used to investigate lobster health problems along with photographic material on disease conditions likely to occur in captive lobsters. Such a manual would be used by operators of holding/culture facilities or by fish health personnel involved in disease investigations. An autopsy manual with illustrations of common parasitic and disease conditions found in Australian lobsters would also be of interest to lobster fishers.

One of the conditions most likely to occur in captive lobsters is bacterial infections by opportunistic pathogens, those bacteria which are ubiquitous and only cause disease when the lobster is weak or when a particularly virulent strain of bacteria is encountered. It is well known that crustaceans can harbour bacteria in their body fluids apparently without causing the animal any harm. Whether the presence of bacteria in the hemolymph of lobsters is indicative of the likelihood of disease outbreaks and future stock mortality is not well understood. In addition to publication of a lobster autopsy manual, this project will provide information which will contribute to understanding and managing bacterial infections in captive lobsters. The information will be obtained from bacterial challenge experiments conducted on lobsters held in aquaria in the laboratory. These experiments will also provide descriptive material for inclusion in the lobster autopsy manual.

The techniques and information described in the autopsy manual can be used to investigate possible problems arising from mortalities of unknown causes, as well provide fishers and factory staff with a reference to consult when lobsters with health problems are encountered during fishing and processing. The autopsy manual will be of value to fish pathologists for use in disease diagnosis as well as to fishers, fish processors and researchers.
Evans L.H. & Brock J.A. 1994. Diseases on spiny lobsters. In "Spiny Lobster Management (Ed. B.F. Phillips, J.S. Cobb & J. Kittaka) pp 461-472. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

The autopsy manual will include details of approach to be followed in conducting an autopsy on a lobster, descriptions of assay methodology, normal ranges for selected immune and physiological parameters, expected deviations from normal in lobsters subjected to excessive postharvest stressors, photographs of gross and microscopic lesions and descriptions of pathogens observed in apparently healthy lobsters as well as in moribund lobsters.

The need for a coordinated sub-program, and research projects focussing on collection and neutrality, nutrition, health and system design and handling has been outlined in the background to this submission. Further evidence of the need for this and the other sub-program projects includes:

Project 1: COORDINATION AND SUB-PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: At a planning workshop in Hobart in 1997, an open forum of all participants identified 21 issues of concern to the aquaculture of rock lobsters. These were condensed into five major issues with each major issues condensed examined in detail by a discussion group. One of the five major issues was project management. Based on the range of research issues and other programs related to rock lobsters, well facilitated project management was considered a fundamental priority. With increasing demands being placed on scientists by their host organisations, the role of Sub-program Leader in addition to project commitments can be impossible to fulfil adequately. A dedicated Sub-program Leader will ensure the Sub-program runs effectively and objectives are delivered on time to the industry.

Project 2: COLLECTION AND NEUTRALITY: Before any large scale commercial on-growing of postlarvae is permitted, it will be necessary to establish what effect large scale harvesting of pueruli might have on the wild stock. A second critical need to the success of any commercial venture into rock lobster postlarval growout is that techniques be developed to harvest huge quantities of healthy pueruli. Research is needed to estimate the likely impact of large-scale harvesting of puerulus on the commercial fishery and to establish methods and equipment necessary to catch large quantities of pueruli in the most cost-effective way.

Project 3: NUTRITION: In Australia, opportunities to value add to the wild catch of lobsters or to on-grow juveniles taken from the wild is seriously constrained by the lack of a cost-effective and efficacious rock lobster feed. This contrasts with the developing industry in New Zealand where waste from the large mussel industry is an available and inexpensive source of feed. If feed comprises 40-50% of rock lobster production costs as is the case in other aquaculture industries (prawns, finfish), the development of a suitable manufactured feed is crucial for the successful establishment of rock lobster aquaculture in Australia.

Project 4: HEALTH: Due to the infancy of rock lobster aquaculture, disease conditions associated with production are poorly understood. Similarly, the prevalence of disease conditions in wildstock and their likely impact in aquaculture systems or extended holding systems has yet to be determined. While other factors associated with the establishment of rock lobster aquaculture are perceived as a higher priority, it is recognised that health monitoring and the early identification of diseases that may affect production is critical. In the short term, there is a need to establish a mechanism for the monitoring of disease conditions of juvenile and adult lobsters in land-based and sea-based holding systems. This will not only provide industry with a means of assessment of moribund lobsters, but will facilitate the identification of health research priorities.

Project 5: SYSTEM DESIGN AND HANDLING: Rock lobster fisheries throughout the world are generally fully or over-exploited while market demand remains very high with this product positioned at the premium end of the crustacean market spectrum. The proposed research will assist in increasing supply of this valuable product in a sustainable way and will consequently decrease pressure on wild populations. System design and basic husbandry information must be completed in conjunction with health and nutrition research as these factors combine to influence the efficiency of production.