The blessings of the fleets have been held, licences are being renewed and fishers, both recreational and commercial, are preparing for another season of catching and enjoying one of our State’s most popular seafoods.
All recreational fishers (with an appropriate licence) and Zone B commercial operators can begin catching Western Rock Lobster from 5.30am this Thursday 15 November. Zone B stretches from north of Jurien to near Exmouth and includes the major fishing ports of Dongara, Geraldton and Kalbarri. Commercial rock lobster fishers in Zone C (which includes Jurien, the Perth metropolitan coast and South West waters to Cape Leeuwin) will begin their season on Sunday 25 November.
Department of Fisheries Principal Management Officer Kevin Donohue said Western Australia’s rock lobster fishery had a worldwide reputation for being a well-managed and sustainable fishery, which had a catch value of around $245 million last year.
“The commercial fishers have shown an ongoing commitment to sustainability principles and embracing strategies to avoid negative environmental impacts as shown through the industry’s work on avoiding potential whale entanglements in pot lines and the use of sea lion exclusion devices in specified zones,” he said.
“For recreational fishers, the rock lobster season often meant the opportunity to enjoy WA’s marine experience and the chance to bring back a tasty catch for Christmas and holiday meals.
“What we would ask is that recreational fishers give themselves a refresher on all the rules that apply – including fishing times, bag and possession limits, minimum size restrictions.
“This season we especially remind recreational fishers of their responsibility to clip or punch the central flap of the tail fan of any lobsters that they keep and that they must do that within 5 minutes of taking them out of the water. The lobsters must also be kept whole until they are prepared for consumption.”
Department of Fisheries Supervising Scientist Dr Nick Caputi said catches were expected to remain below average this season, due to weak Leeuwin Currents 3 and 4 years ago that led to low puerulus (juvenile lobster) settlement in coastal reefs.
“The last strong Leeuwin Current was in 2000, but, the commencement of a La Nina cycle may see a strong current return next year,” Dr Caputi said.
Details about recreational rock lobster fishing rules, including the zone where sea lion exclusion devices must be used in pots, can be found on the Department’s website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
