Story: Ocean currents and tides

Crayfish

Crayfish

The larvae of the red rock lobster (known in New Zealand as crayfish) have a long development stage, spending nearly two years in oceanic waters before swimming towards rocky shores. Scientists think that some of the larvae are carried 2,000 kilometres from southern Australia to New Zealand by ocean currents. But most lobsters probably originate from locally hatched larvae that are held close to the shore by features such as the Wairarapa Eddy, a large permanent vortex off the Wairarapa coast.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 27.12.2002 Uw 011

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How to cite this page:

Craig Stevens and Stephen Chiswell, 'Ocean currents and tides - Flows on the continental shelf', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5929/crayfish (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Craig Stevens and Stephen Chiswell, published 12 Jun 2006