The natural annual process to renew Western Australia’s vital reef systems, along the Mid West and Gascoyne coasts, is due next week and it presents risks for rock lobster fishers.
Department of Fisheries Mid West Regional Manager Greg Finlay said the first of this year’s coral spawning periods was expected to take place at the Abrolhos Islands around 20-22 March, in the same week the islands’ rock lobster fishing season was getting underway.
“According to the Department of Environment and Conservation, coral spawning at the Abrolhos usually occurs between nine and 11 days after the full moons at this time of year. Therefore, with a full moon occurring on 11 March and another due on 9 April, the first of two spawning periods is expected next weekend and the second is due between 18 April and 20 April,” Mr Finlay said.
“Spawning periods occur over different periods in other parts of the WA coast.
“The risk for rock lobster fishers at the Abrolhos is the potential for large slicks of coral larvae presenting problems for lobsters kept in holding crates or in holding tanks aboard commercial fishing vessels anchored in shallow areas.
“Coral spawning slicks can cause caged lobsters to suffocate by taking oxygen out of the water. This can especially be a risk in calm weather conditions, when there is not enough rough water or wind to disperse large collections of larvae.
“The spawning is a vitally important process of renewal for our ecologically valuable reefs at the Abrolhos and along the Mid-West and Gascoyne Coasts, but where rock lobsters may be stored in shallow or poorly flushed lagoon areas it can potentially lead to losses.”
Mr Finlay said this year’s commercial rock lobster fishing at the Abrolhos Islands was expected to get underway on Tuesday, after the weekly three-day closure that currently applied in all zones of WA’s western rock lobster fishery.
“Commercial fishers at the Abrolhos will be able to put their pots in the water and bait them on Monday, but they can’t begin to take catches from them until Tuesday,” he said.
“It is important for lobster fishers to closely monitor and even separate their holding cages or shift them into deeper water, during the coral spawning period, to avoid risk of losses.”
The Abrolhos is a Fish Habitat Protection Area, managed by the Department of Fisheries and special rules apply to what people can and can’t do in the area. Further information is available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au or by phoning 9921 6800 or calling into the department’s Geraldton office at 67-69 Connell Rd between 9am and 4 pm weekdays.
