Movement and Growth of Tagged School Prawns, Metapenaeus macleayi (Haswell) (Crustacea : Penaeidae), in the Clarence River Region of Northern New South Wales

Movement and growth of M. macleayi in the Clarence River region were investigated during tagging studies using Atkins-type tags. Although some tagged prawns released into the estuary showed a marked susceptibility to developing lesions and skeletal necroses at the tag wound site, the majority were able to moult, bury and behave normally. Movement of tagged prawns suggested that M. macleayi from the Clarence River undertake limited northwards migrations which are possibly assisted by currents. Such movement may therefore contribute to the Evans Head fishery. Growth of tagged prawns appeared to be unusually rapid in the first 2 weeks after release but in subsequent weeks was found to be comparable with that recorded in other similar studies.