2009 updated stock assessments for West Coast rock lobster

The west coast rock lobster assessment of 20061 based on data to 2004 is updated to include data up to 2008. Over the last four years the exploitable biomass trend is upwards for Areas 7 and 8 and the resource as a whole, but downwards for Areas 5+6 and almost level for Areas 1+2 and 3+4. The overall increase since 2006 is significant at the 5% level. While better than median projections at the time the current OMP developed, the increase remains within the 95% probability intervals calculated at the time