Climate driven shifts in benthic habitat composition as a potential demographic bottleneck for Western Rocklobster: understanding the role of recruitment habitats to better predict the under-size lobster population for fishery sustainability

Across the western rock lobster fishery shallow water nearshore habitats are thought to be critical for recruitment to the fishery. There is increasing evidence that western rock lobster populations have been impacted by changes in habitat composition, either from discrete impacts such as the 2011/2012 marine heat wave or via longer term changes in coastal processes. This investment will evaluate the implications of habitat change for the western rock lobster fishery, by determining the relative importance of habitat for the survivorship and growth of critical western rock lobster life stages. The knowledge will inform management practices that ensure the sustainability of the fishery.