Puerulus and juvenile abundance in the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii at Stewart Island,New Zealand (Note)

Settlement of puerulus‐stage New Zealand red rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) and abundance of the first three juvenile cohorts were measured from 1981 to 1989 near Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island. Puerulus settlement on subtidal collectors shows great annual variation. Juvenile abundance, estimated from the number caught in annual diver collections, shows less variation. One‐year‐olds appear less vulnerable to diver sampling than older juveniles. Abundance of 2‐ and 3‐year‐olds is highly correlated with puerulus settlement 2 and 3 years previously. Survival between puerulus and 1+ stages appears to be density‐dependent, but survival of older juveniles does not. Size is inversely related to abundance in 3+ females but not in the other cohorts, suggesting density‐dependent growth between ages 2 and 3. Puerulus settlement rates and processes on shallow inshore reefs appear to be important in determining recruitment strength in this species.