The larvae of the red rock lobster (often 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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Reference: 27.12.2002 Uw 011
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