Publication Date

1987

Series Number

Fisheries Report 77

Publisher

Fisheries Department, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 1616 2

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 10,576 tonnes in 1983/84, out of a total Australian rock lobster catch, with the exception of Queensland, of 15,777 tonnes. The fishery is governed by a complex set of regulations which are designed to limit the total fishing effort to acceptable levels and to enforce a legal minimum size (Bowen 1971, Hancock 1981). Thus, it is important to monitor the state of the fishery constantly 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 changes in fishing practice, gear, etc. since these may lead to increases in efficiency which may not be detectable through the usual calculations of fishing effort.

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

Number of Pages

25

Keywords

Western Rock Lobster (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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