Managing the fishery
The rock lobster fishery is managed under the
Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and
Fisheries (Rock Lobster) Rules 2022.
A number of controls ensure the sustainable management of lobster resources, as well as the industry's ongoing viability. These arrangements include limited entry (312 licences),
restricted seasons, gear restrictions and requirements, a total allowable catch (TAC); individual transferable quota units (ITQs) (10,507 units), minimum size limits and a comprehensive monitoring regime that requires documentation and real-time reporting. Catch limits are also in place for recreational fishers.
Total allowable catch and catch updates
Each year, the rock lobster total allowable catch (TAC) is set for the next quota year which runs from 1 March to 28/29 February each year. A portion of the TAC is allocated to the commercial sector, known as the total allowable commercial catch (TACC). The TACC is split equally amongst the 10,507 quota units issued in the fishery. To determine the value of each quota unit, the yearly TACC is divided by 10,507. As the TACC changes, the value of the quota units are amended.
As well as the statewide TACC, there are competitive catch caps for the East Coast and North East areas of the fishery.
See the
Rock Lobster Catch page for the monthly catch update on the amount of rock lobster harvested by commercial fishermen statewide and in
East Coast Catch Cap area and
North East Catch Cap area.
Area closures
There are some waters where rock lobster fishing cannot take place at any time, including marine reserves (State and Commonwealth), research areas and no potting areas. These are listed below with links provided to maps.
Rock Lobster Closed Areas
In Tasmania, generally rock lobster fishing is prohibited in the seven Marine Nature Reserves, however, some marine reserves have areas where restricted recreational and commercial fishing is allowed.
Go to the Marine Reserve page for more information about Marine Nature Reserves and Commonwealth Marine Parks.
Fisheries research areas may have restrictions that prohibit rock lobster fishing. Go to the
Fisheries Research Areas page for more information.