In May 2024, we asked recreational and commercial rock lobster fishers what they want the future of the rock lobster fishery to look like, to help inform the development of the Rock Lobster Harvest Strategy.
The Department held face-to-face workshops with 20 recreational fishers and separate workshops with 45 commercial fishers. Fishers who were unable to attend workshops were given the opportunity to complete a survey which had over 151 responses from recreational fishers, and 32 responses from commercial fishers.
Here’s what you told us.
From the workshops
The majority of recreational and commercial fishers said they were happy with current catch rates.
Commercial fishers value the rock lobster fishery because:- it provides returns to regional towns and communities through local knowledge and employment,
- work can be transient, nomadic and flexible, and
- fishers are proud to be improving the health of the stock.
Recreational rock lobster fishers value the rock lobster fishery because:- they enjoy being outside and enjoying nature,
- they like catching lobster, and
- there are positive mental health benefits.
Other important feedback included:
- Recreational fishers want the fishery managed to a high biomass level (e.g., a limit reference point of 20% unfished biomass and a target reference point around 40-50% unfished biomass).
- Recreational fishers value a range of age and size classes and knowing that the stock is well managed and sustainable.
- Commercial fishers raised concerns about the future of the rock lobster industry with decreasing number of vessels, difficulty attracting and retaining trained deckhands and reduced access to quota.
From the surveys
Recreational
Through the survey, recreational fishers also told us that equitable access to the fishery and better compliance and enforcement of rules was important.
Commercial
Through the survey commercial fishers also told us that in most parts of the State, catch rates are the best they have seen. However, commercial fishers noted that the current catch caps effect their commercial viability.
Respondents also said that catch rates are decreasing in the South-East of the State, and reported that they've observed high commercial and recreational effort in that area.
How have we used this information?
Fisher feedback was provided to the Rock Lobster Harvest Strategy Working Group (which includes representatives from all sectors).
The Working Group then used fishers answers to inform draft objectives and reference points (e.g. biomass targets and limits) for the rock lobster fishery. These objectives and reference points will form part of the Rock Lobster Harvest Strategy which will be released for wider public consultation in 2025.
What can and can't be addressed in a harvest strategy
Harvest strategies are a tool for sustainable management of a fishery and are primarily used to outline rules around the setting of total allowable catch (TAC), whilst considering social, economic and cultural objective where possible.
Through the survey and workshops, fishers raised some important issues which the Working Group identified as beyond the scope of a harvest strategy.
As a result, the Working Group endorsed that the harvest strategy form part of an overarching Management Framework for the fishery so that concerns which fall outside the scope of a harvest strategy are still considered and that there is a place for them to be addressed in future management.
The Management Framework will include:
- Background of the fishery
- Management of the fishery
- Objectives of the fishery
- Harvest strategy
- Resource sharing
The Working Group is currently considering the process for developing the Management Framework.
What’s next?
Once a draft harvest strategy has been prepared all sectors and the community will be given the opportunity to have input through further workshops and a period of consultation. This is scheduled to take place in the first half of 2025.