Lobster haul pushes limit

ROCK lobster fishers exceeded a notional East Coast catch limit by an estimated eight tonnes last season, researchers say

IN THE BAG: Fishers had their sights on East Coast crayfish.

ROCK lobster fishers exceeded a notional East Coast catch limit by an estimated eight tonnes last season, researchers say.

A study by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies found that during the eastern region rock lobster season, (November to April) and the western region (November to August) that licensed recreational fishers harvested an estimated 87.9 tonnes.

Overall, the harvest fell well short of the total allowable recreational catch of 170 tonnes — equivalent to about 7 per cent of the total allowable catch (1221 tonnes). The allowable catch includes the commercial catch limit of 1051 tonnes. But, with 57 per cent of lobster caught in eastern waters, fishers exceeded the East Coast stock rebuilding strategy’s notional catch limit of 42 tonnes.

The catch was estimated at 50.2 tonnes compared with 35.7 tonnes in 2015-16, which was influenced by biotoxins in the area.

Report co-author Jeremy Lyle said the catch cap was not regulated like the commercial fishery.

Dr Lyle added recovering stocks had resulted in more catches after the 2015-16 biotoxin closures.

“If we continually exceed that rate, then that rebuild will take longer,“ he said.

A total of 413 people completed a survey to provide detailed catch information for each fishing trip undertaken.