Yorkshire, English Channel and South Wales

Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts; Zooplankton egg hatch proportion

Manual biota samplers; rock dredges

The data were collected for use in stock assessments to provide details of size at maturity, proportion maturity and fecundity and to relate external indicators of maturity to internal conditions. Between 1980 and 1981 samples were taken from Yorkshire and Wales. The following measurements were made: abdomen width/carapace length relationship, Anderson index, colour, size and weight of the vas deferens in males and the ovaries in females, proportion berried and egg counts (dry weight and Coulter counter). Between 1987 and 1992 samples were taken from Yorkshire, the English Channel and Wales. Observations were as above plus, for females: ovary factor as hepatopancreas weight relative to ovary weight; cement gland development; Perkins eye index; oocyte size frequency distributions; egg counts using a HIAC, and, for males: gonad factor as hepatopancreas weight relative to vas deferens weight; Crusher Propodite Index. N.B. The work from 1987 to 1992 was a collaborative study with Southampton University.

Bennett, D. (1987) Estimates of lobster (Homarus Gammarus) fecundity from east and west Britain., ICES C.M. 1987/K : 47, 14pp.; Free, E.M., Tylor, P.A. and Addison, J.T. (1992) Lobster (Homarus gammarus) fecundity and maturity in England and Wales., ICES C.M. 1992/K:43, 9pp.

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 OHT
United Kingdom