Spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) or crayfish are found throughout New Zealand and Chatham Islands' coastal waters. The commercial rock lobster fishery is New Zealand's third biggest seafood export earner.

Spiny rock lobsters are carnivorous and live in and around reefs in depths ranging from 5 to 275 metres. They are dark red and orange above with paler yellowish bellies.

Rock Lobster Fishery

Rock lobster are caught commercially using baited pots. Once caught, most are held in temperature-controlled aquariums before being airfreighted "live" to export markets.

New Zealand's spiny rock lobster fishery is managed by strict quotas which allow only a set amount of spiny rock lobster to be taken commercially each year. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) is 2,981 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

The fishery is also controlled by size restrictions: for a lobster to be of legal size, the width between the primary spines on the second segment of the tail must be greater than 54mm for a male lobster and 60mm for a female. This equates to a body length of around 25-30cm. Special measuring caliphers are available.

For more information on quotas see Management and Sustainability.

Rock Lobster Exports

Exports of spiny rock lobster in the year ended December 2009 were worth $NZ 184 million, with over 85% of the product exported "chilled live" to Hong Kong.

Rock Lobster Meat Quality

Rock lobster flesh is firm with a sweet medium and rich taste, and retains its shape in most styles of cooking.