Publication Date

4-2000

Series Number

116

Publisher

Fisheries Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 8432 X

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

This report is the latest in a series covering the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (formerly the West Coast Rock Lobster Limited Entry Fishery), Western Australia’s largest and most valuable fishery. These reports form an historical record of fishery data and information documented season by season for use by industry and research personnel now and in the future. The reports provide information on catch, fishing effort and biology; value of the product and licences; input costs (fuel, bait, etc.); changes in fishing practices, gear, technology and boats and management/legislative changes. By necessity, the information contained herein is summarised from the extensive and detailed data bases maintained by Fisheries WA. Commercial Fisheries Production Bulletins issued periodically, summarising the status of the fishery in each season, are included as an appendix to this report.

The 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons produced landings of 11,000 and 10,800 tonnes respectively, valued at approximately $300 million in each season. These average to slightly above average catches were landed by 639 vessels in 1993/94 and 621 boats in 1994/95 with stable nominal fishing effort of 10.4 million pot lifts during each of the seasons. Similar catch rates of 1.06 and 1.04 kg of rock lobster per pot lift were recorded for both seasons.

New management arrangements were introduced in 1993/94 to rebuild the breeding stock which had fallen to a low level. Over the course of the two seasons opposition to the management package dissipated and the fishery enjoyed a period of stability and profitability.

Number of Pages

46

Keywords

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Panulirus cygnus, legal minimum size, regulation, sustainable catches

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Policy | Natural Resources and Conservation | Sustainability

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