These long term data will add to our knowledge of the lobsters' biology. In 1991 a program was established to monitor the size of lobsters captured and the relative numbers of males and females. As part of this program volunteer fishers measure lobsters in a few of their pots. This gives us important length frequency data for many of the areas being fished. This is a very important data source and could not be collected without the help of fishers.
Lobsters grow by moulting their shell twice a year.
Each pleopod is studied under a microscope to determine the stage in the lobster's moult cycle at the time of capture. This information helps in identifying common times of lobster growth. Environmental Data Sea surface and sea bottom temperature, current direction, swell height, and wind speed and direction are collected by many fishermen daily. In order to apply the knowledge and data from the South Australian rock lobster population, a computer model was developed. Data was gathered in an intensive collaboration between scientists and fishers.