Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today announced the reduction of an access fee for the commercial rock lobster sector for the 2009-10 season.
The State’s rock lobster industry is subject to significant management controls – including a requirement to halve the long-term average catch – to protect the sustainability of the fishery.
Mr Moore said the reduced fee would help rock lobster fishers with their cost controls.
“I have reduced the access fee to $112 per unit, a reduction of about 24 per cent,” he said.
“This should go some way to lowering operating costs of rock lobster fishers as they go through this tough time of lower than normal catches.
“The reduction of these fees was negotiated by the Western Rock Lobster Council on behalf of their members as part of the overall strategy to help manage this industry and ensure the sustainability of this important fishery.”
The Minister said he would announce the coming season’s management arrangements and target catch level as soon as possible, after further discussions with the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC).
“I will consult with RLIAC – which has three new members with considerable experience in the lobster fishery – on the best way forward in matters affecting Western Australia’s rock lobster industry,” he said.
