Publication Date

1985

Series Number

Fisheries Report 70

Publisher

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 0678 7

ISSN

0726 0733

Abstract

The fishery for the western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus is one of the most important single fisheries in Australia and an important export earner for the State. Western Australia produced a record 12 416 tons in 1982/83, out of a total Australian rock lobster catch of 18 192 tons. The fishery is governed by a complex set of regulations which have been reviewed by Bowen (1971) and Hancock (1981) and which are designed to limit the total fishing effort to acceptable levels and to enforce a legal minimum size. It is thus important to constantly monitor the state of the fishery both to ensure that the fishing effort is remaining within the accepted limits and that the regulations are adequately performing their function of maintaining reasonably stable catches. Inherent in this monitoring of the fishery is a careful examination of fishing practice, gear, etc. which may lead to increases in efficiency which may not be detectable through the usual calculations of fishing effort.

This paper is the tenth of a series of annual reviews of the previous rock lobster season which will discuss fishing practice, catches, effort, mean size and various other factors, a knowledge of which will help towards a better understanding of the status of the fishery. Each review is in a standardised format to allow season to season comparisons and examination of long term trends.

Number of Pages

25

Keywords

Western Rock Lobster Fishery (Panulirus cygnus), Fishery, Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

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